The Luvuvhu River in the Vuwani area is notoriously known for vicious killer crocodiles and many lives have been lost at the river. In recent years, however, this changed and the river has become a drowning area for swimmers.

As the hot summer heat takes its toll, parents and families at Hanesengani in Vuwani who live along the banks of the river are in a state of fear and panic. At one of the spots at the river as many as four people have drowned in recent times.

In the most recent incident, a 19-year-old Grade 9 pupil at Tshipakoni Secondary School at Tshino village drowned while swimming and cooling off from the scorching heat. Derrick Mudau of Tshivhazwaulu was in the company of friends when the incident happened.

It took place last Thursday, around midday, when the friends who were swimming noticed that Mudau had disappeared. The spot where he drowned is frequented by pupils during school holidays. News of Mudau’s drowning spread like wildfire, with curious onlookers from Tshivhazwaulu and all the neighbouring villages coming in their numbers. Within a very short space of time, the river bank was swarming with people who arrived at the scene.

Divers who were called to search for the body did not take long to locate the body. Mudau's mother, who was also at the scene, cried uncontrollably after identifying the body as her son. Community leader Alex Ndou, a ward committee member responsible for safety and security and also a member of the Tshivhazwaulu traditional council, said the spot had claimed four lives in recent times.

“We are trying whatever we can to stop children from swimming in that river, but we cannot always be there to guard them. We always talk about water safety in our meetings, but all our efforts seem to be in vain. We are appealing to parents to monitor their children’s movements all the time to avoid such tragedies,” he said.

Vuwani police spokesperson W/O Elijah Malatjie, who was also at the scene, said drowning at this time of the year had become a source for concern. “We experience many incidents of drowning at this time of the year and are appealing to parents and the community to guard against children's going to rivers when it is hot. Besides drowning, the Luvuvhu River is infested with big crocodiles that have killed many people from this community,” he said.

Five incidents of drownings were reported in Limpopo province since Wednesday last week.