The search for a young man who drowned while fishing with a friend in Nwanedi-Luphephe dam ended on a sad note when his body was retrieved from the water on Monday.
The 33-year-old fisherman, Mr. Lutendo Walter Sitsei from Tshikotoni village near Gumela in the Mutale area, went fishing with a friend last Friday, 7 June. While fishing with a net and a boat, he decided to check their nets. According to his friend, he suddenly heard Walter saying that his boat was sinking.
Villagers from Tshikotoni, Manzhenge, and Gumela worked tirelessly since Friday to search for Sitsei, who was eventually found dead by police divers four days after the incident.
A family member, Ms. Ndidzulafhi Nethononda, said that they had never given up hope of finding him. "We were praying that, although he might be dead, we must get his body, so that we can give him a proper burial." She added that Walter's job as a fisherman had enabled him to earn money and support his family.
Acting Vhembe SAPS spokesperson W/O Vuledzani Dathi confirmed that the Mutale police are investigating a case, following the drowning of a 33-year-old male at Nwanedi-Luphephe Dam on Friday, 7 June, at about 04:30.