The community of Majambeni Trust, near Bushubckridge, in Mpumalanga are still reeling in shock after a sangoma trainee drowned while perfoming traditional rituals together with his gobela and other trainees at Rainbow River on Sunday.

DROWNING

Mpumalanga SAPS spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli confirmed the incident. He said according to information, the sangoma was part of the three male trainees who had accompanied a female traditional healer to the river to perform some rituals. "During the process, one of the trainees disappeared inside the river. A search was conducted with no luck. The matter was immediately reported to the police and police divers were summoned to the scene," he said.

BODY RECOVERED

The trainee sangoma's body was recovered after three hours from the river. Mdhluli said that there were no visible injuries on the deceased's body however an inquest is being investigated by the police. "We are cautioning members of the public to be extra careful when conducting some activities in the rivers. This is due to continuous rainfall experienced in most areas, it should be noted that the rivers as well as dams are swollen, which pose danger to anybody going to the rivers and even dams," he said.