In spite of scary reports of incidents of crocodile attacks in the rivers, many people are still prepared to risk their lives by going to the dangerous water in search of fish that help them to support their families, directly or indirectly.

Just half a day after Mirror reported about the shocking incident where young Thivhalitshi Mutheiwana was at-tacked and killed by a huge crocodile at the Luvuvhu River, many fishermen were returning to the murky waters in search of a big catch that would provide food for their family’s table.

Two such proud fishermen are Bernard Mashavha and Avhurengwi Sigidi of Dididi. Although they admit that what they are doing is a serious gamble with their lives, Mashavha and Sigidi say: “There is nothing we can do as this is the only way we can support ourselves and our families without fighting with anybody.”

The two, who were selling big fish for R130 and R150 respectively, say they have been fishing at the same river, Luvuvhu, where Mutheiwana was attacked. When the Nandoni Dam was com-pleted, they moved there as it is closer to their homes.

“We might be putting our lives at risk, but business is very good at the river. Sometimes we catch 16 fish of a similar size that we are showing here today. Some of these fish can go for R180 or more,” say the proud fishermen to the amazement of onlookers at the Thohoyandou Complex.

Each fish can be one metre long, weighing about 5kg.

The fishermen use hooks to catch the fishes. They say they will always risk their lives by getting into the river to catch the fish, as long as it helps them to stay away from doing crime.