Joburg EMS recovers one body of a missing person. Photo: Joburg EMS/ Facebook
Joburg EMS promotes water safety post-tragic ritual incidents
Joburg EMS collaborated with religious groups at the Jukskei River, aiming to educate on water safety following a recent tragic drowning
Joburg EMS recovers one body of a missing person. Photo: Joburg EMS/ Facebook
Joburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) collaborated with religious groups at the Jukskei River, aiming to educate on water safety following a recent tragic incident.
Last week, an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old were swept away during cleansing rituals in Klip River; their bodies recovered separately.
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JOBURG EMS PROMOTES WATER SAFETY POST-TRAGIC INCIDENTS
Robert Mulaudzi, Joburg EMS spokesperson, highlighted believers’ misconception that strong water currents are ideal for rituals, putting them at risk.
He emphasized the danger of conducting rituals in rivers, particularly at night when visibility is limited, contributing to drowning incidents.
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Most incidents occur during the festive season as residents engage in river activities, including baptism and cleansing ceremonies.
Mulaudzi stressed the importance of educating communities to conduct rituals safely, aiming to reduce incidents during the upcoming summer holiday.
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Last December, 15 people drowned in the Jukskei River during a baptism ceremony, prompting intensified public education efforts for water safety.
MULAUDZI TRIES TO REASON WITH RELIGIOUS LEADERS
In an interview on eNCA, Mulaudzi expressed concern about the secretiveness of these cleansing ceremonies.
“We must not beat around the bush, as long as these kinds of rituals are still a secret, we are not going to win this battle.
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But if they performed these rituals during the day when there are no risks of people being swept away, we would win this war,” he explained.
