By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Johannesburg emergency management services (EMS) personnel have recovered the body of an “unidentified female” in the Klip River five days after two young people drowned during a cleansing ritual.
Wednesday marked five days since two young people had been swept away by the river.
An 18-year-old woman and 21-year-old man were conducting a cleansing ritual on Saturday morning when they were washed away.
The City of Johannesburg Aquatic Rescue Unit, together with police divers, have been searching since Saturday afternoon to recover the bodies.
Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson Xolile Khumalo says it remains unclear if the body recovered belongs to one of the two young people.
“The search and rescue teams have recovered a body of an unidentified female in the Kliprevier on the N1 bridge. We are not certain that body of that of the two young persons that allegedly drowned on Saturday evening in Olifantsvlei.”
The search continues for the other missing body.
Meanwhile, police opened an inquest last week when an 18-year-old Soweto teenager drowned at the Klipvalley river when he slipped and fell while attempting to cross the river on Tuesday.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said: “The body of the 18-year-old boy who drowned in Soweto was recovered by emergency services.”
“The matter is being handled by the SAPS, we have since opened an inquest docket for further investigation”.