Tulani Ngwenya
Nelspruit, South Africa – Fifty-six year old tour guide barely survived a muddy incident in Komatipoort when Komati River’s violent currents washed his vehicle away. The incident, which occurred around 11:00 a.m. on Friday December 29, 2023, saw the tour guide successfully rescued, whilst two other men remain missing after being swept away in separate incidents.
According to police reports, on the evening prior the incident at approximately 8:00 p.m., the tour guide, who was working in Mozambique, attempted to traverse a low-water bridge in the Komati River while en route to pick up guests from South Africa and transport them to Mozambique. The force of the water overwhelmed the vehicle, leading to a perilous situation.
The following Friday Morning Mpumalanga Police Divers, in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) based in Hoedspruit, successfully rescued the guide using a helicopter dispatched by the soldiers. Despite the successful rescue, the submerged vehicle remains trapped in the river.
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Tragically, earlier on the same day (December 28, 2023), around 1:00 pm, another unidentified man attempted to cross the same low-water bridge and was swept away by the strong currents. The police divers are actively searching for him, but he has not yet been located.
In a separate incident, on Thursday, December 28, 2023, a man from Kanyamazane reportedly fled into a nearby river following an alleged quarrel at his residence. Despite search efforts, he remains missing, adding to the urgency of the ongoing search and rescue operations.
The Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela, commended the rescue team for their swift response. She also urged members of the public to exercise caution during rainy days and to avoid crossing low-lying bridges, emphasising the potentially life-threatening risks associated with such actions.
As the search continues for the two missing men, authorities remain vigilant, emphasising the importance of public safety and awareness in water-related incidents.
