Staff Reporter
Three people are reported to have drowned during a baptism ceremony in the eastern Free State, while another died after going out for a swim with friends in Welkom.
In the first incident, police say two men aged 24 and 25 as well as a woman aged 24 drowned in Liebenbergvlei Dam near Bethlehem on Saturday while being baptised.
“They were part of a congregation from Botshabelo and drowned during baptism,” said the police in a statement.
“The body of the female was retrieved by Lejweleputswa District K9 Search and Rescue Team,” added the police.
The search for the two men who are still missing was provisionally halted due to bad weather conditions and a strong water current due to the heavy rains received this weekend.
In the second case which happened on Sunday, a 14-year-old boy drowned in a dam in an open field near Edu College in Welkom.
Police divers later retrieved the boy’s body after receiving a report of the drowning.
Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Baile Motswenyane has urged community members to exercise caution while at dams or rivers particularly after heavy rains.
“It is better to swim . . . in areas supervised by lifeguards. We also urge parents to advise children to refrain from swimming in dams unsupervised, or crossing (rivers) with heavy flowing waters or strong current,” she said.