Church Member Drowns During Baptism

A man has drowned during his baptism session at Groot Letaba River in Nwamarhanga village, Limpopo, South Africa.

The 27-year-old man slipped into the water and drowned soon after he was baptized.

The spokesman of the Limpopo police, Colonel Malesela Ledwana, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday.

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The victim was identified as one Ronaldo Rikhotso.

“The police in Giyani have opened a case of inquest after a baptism took a tragic turn when a 27-year-old male congregant slipped into the water and drowned soon after baptism in Groot Letaba River in Nwamarhanga village on March 18, 2023,”

“According to the information, the church congregants led by their priest, had been performing religious rituals and after they concluded the session, one of the congregants went back to the river to collect water. The 27-year-old man, identified as Ronald Rikhotso, reportedly slipped and drowned,” he said.

He said that the police were alerted about the incident and the body was later retrieved from the river by divers from the SAPS.

The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe cautions members of the community to be careful and wary when using dams and rivers for any purpose including religious activities,” he added.