Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane says the incident occurred at approximately 21:00 yesterday when a group of people attempted to cross a stream. Esther Amina Mathenjwa was the first to cross the stream when she was swept away by the strong current.
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“Mathenjwa was a hawker at a local school in Msholozi. At the time of the incident, she was carrying a bucket that she used to sell vetkoek at the school. When she was crossing the stream, the bucket was swept away by the water, and as she attempted to retrieve it, she was also swept away,” Ndubane says.
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Members of the community searched for Mathenjwa throughout last night, but could not find her. The police diving unit, together with community members, retrieved the body of the deceased 5km down the stream from where the incident occurred this morning.
A two-year-old boy also drowned in Msholozi C outside White River on Tuesday.
Sibusiso Mnisi’s mother, Thapiseng, says he was asleep inside their house when she left and crossed the stream close to their house. She did not realise that her son was following her. The boy attempted to cross the stream on his own, and was swept away by the strong current and drowned.
