TSHATSHINGO - Laughter of joy turned into screams of terror when a 30-year-old man, who was enjoying a picnic, fell into the 30m Tshatshingo pothole last Friday.

Mr Elvis Mabada (31) of Tshivhilidulu Village visited the pothole at Tshidzivhe near Lake Fundudzi on Good Friday with friends. It is still not yet known how he fell into the pothole, but all attempts to rescue him were fruitless and he drowned. Police divers retrieved his body on Sunday.

Supt Ailwei Mushavhanamadi of the SAPS in Vhembe con-firmed the death of Mabada and appealed to the public not to visit the area without a qualified tour guide. He said that the place is very dangerous. The police have opened an inquest docket.

The Vhembe District Municipality was also terrified by the death of Mr Mabada and sent a message of condolences to the deceased’s family.