The Emergency Management Services Aquatic Rescue Unit ,together with SAPS Water Wing, have recovered the body of a woman believed to be one of the two people who drowned at Kliprivier over the weekend. This comes five days after two young people were washed away during a cleansing ceremony at Kliprivier, in the south of Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.

The search for the 18-year-old woman and a 21-year-old man commenced on Sunday morning. EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo confirmed that an unidentified body of a woman was recovered just before 12:00 midday today. "One body was recovered and it is of unidentified woman. We are yet to confirm if the body is one of the two people who allegedly drowned on Saturday evening in Olifantsvlei," Khumalo said. She said the EMS will release a statement as soon as they have further details. Khumalo said that the two bodies were swept away after a traditional healer was reportedly busy conducting a cleansing ritual in the said river. The two people were swept away by strong currents. "The traditional healer who was performing the ceremony managed to get out of the river unharmed. Rescue teams who've been conducting their search since Sunday have now bolstered their resources by roping in their K9 unit," she said.

Khumalo further said that EMS has once more highlighted the potential dangers around bodies of water such as rivers, streams and dams during the rainy season and warned community members about the alarming situation of drowning incidents taking place in the city, especially during religious activities. "Traditional healers, prophets and pastors are urged to ensure the safety of congregants while conducting cleansing or baptism rituals at all times," she said. The incident took place only a few days after another teenager was swept away when he tried to cross the Kliprevier last week. The boy's body was recovered last week Tuesday. The search for the last body was suspended this afternoon and it will resume tomorrow morning.