Nelspruit: Mpumi Ntiwane (22) did not hesitate to save the life of a 10-year-old boy from drowning, sacrificing his own life at Mzinti river in Tonga yesterday,Tuesday 28 February 2023.
The brave Ntiwane who will be hailed a hero by locals, was with his three friends when they went fishing in the nearby Mzinti rivernext to a guest house around the low lying bridge in the old Mzinti/ Tonga road.
It is said the grass always looks greener of the other side of the fence which is why the victim and the 10-year-old boy decided to swim from their original fishing spot to the other side of the river.
Little did they know that the boy will have difficulties in swimming. The boy’s struggle prompted Ntiwane to offer his best assistance to save the boy from drowning.
The boy was successfully rescued, but Ntiwane lost the battle afterwards and perished from everyone’s sight.
Police were summoned to the scene and through the assistance of the police divers, his lifeless body was retrieved this morning, Wednesday 01 March 2023.
In a separate incident Innocent Makhanya (28) left home on Monday morning, 27 February 2023 at about 06:00 heading to Nkomazi River in Block B next to Tonga for fishing.
Makhanya did not return home. It was confirmed by local farmers that they indeed saw him fishing in the area, but they left him still busy when going back home at about 12:00.
His worried family members reported him missing to the police and search and rescue team was dispatched to the scene. Their search was fruitful as his body was retrieved this afternoon Wednesday, 01 March 2023.
Police in Mpumalanga calls upon community members to refrain from fishing in the nearby rivers as the recent floods left the swollen and dangerous rivers.
Despite drowning, some creatures that survive in water could hardly stand for the water current which can force them to prey outside their comfort zones.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner of Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has send strong warning to the community to refrain from rivers as they are still flooded and dangerous. “We cannot afford to lose more lives, one life lost is too many for us,” warned the General.
Source: South African Police Service