When four friends from the Tshino area left their houses last Monday, they expected it to be a regular day of fishing at the nearby Luvhuvhu river. Little did they know that, a few hours later, they would be fighting for their lives against a raging river, a fight one of them very likely did not survive.

Khathutshelo Ramanyimi (30), Muthuphei Mpilo (33), Livhuwani Mabasa (41) and Stanley Nedzamba depend on fishing to feed their families. For some strange reason, which none of them could explain, they did not go to their usual spot on Monday morning. Their new spot next to the river held a couple of surprises, the first being more fish than they had caught in a long time. The second surprise was less pleasant. The river started to swell unexpectedly and a strong current swept them away.

One of the survivors, Khathutshelo Ramanyimi, later recalled the traumatic episode: “We were in a joyful mood as we were catching a lot more fish than usual. Just as we were thinking of getting out of the river, we were surprised by a heavy current coming from upstream. We were surprised as there was no rain at the time and we did not expect a full river. We know that they sometimes open the weir at the Albasini dam, but they do so in the evening. This was a nasty and shocking surprise which caught us off-guard."

Khathutshelo cannot remember much of what had happened, but he still remembers that he and Livhuwani Mabasa grabbed hold of a tree in the river. Mabasa was then swept away by the strong current. A police rescue team arrived later and rescued him from the river. "It was a very trying experience. I kept praying that God would spare me, and I am glad that He saved me, but I am worried that our friend has not been located so far. I am just praying that he be found alive because I know the family is going through difficult times,” said Khathutshelo.

Muthuphei Mpilo, another survivor, said he would never go fishing again. “What I experienced has taught me something that I lacked in life. It is dreadful, and I vow that I will never venture into water again. I only have God to thank for saving my life. I should have been dead,” he said.

The incident sent shock waves through the village and surrounding areas. Several volunteers from nearby villages helped in the search for the missing man. Police divers combed the river further downstream towards Nandoni, but to no avail.

Chief Nthambeleni Ranennyeni of Tshifhefhe, who called the police, said it was a dreadful experience. “We are very disturbed by what had happened here, because the Water Affairs people are not following the right procedure. They must inform us as traditional leaders if they want to open the water at Albasini. We can then inform our communities that they should be careful. Nevertheless, we are still making an appeal to the community out there not to venture into the water. Besides the swelling river, there are crocodiles that have killed may people in this river. Please stay away from the river,” said Ranenyeni.