Two boys recovering in hospital after crocodile attack

Two young boys from Tshakhuma are recovering in hospital after being attacked by a crocodile at the Lutanandwa River on Thursday, 4 January. Although the boys are seriously injured and currently still in the hospital, they were extremely lucky to have escaped alive.

On the morning of the incident, the two cousins, Mokiti Mushiana (9) and Rofhiwa Mudau (12), decided to go for a swim in the river to cool off from the intense heat. Little did they know that a crocodile was lying in wait for them. Rofhiwa told Limpopo Mirror that, when they had gone into the water, Mokiti had suddenly yelled that he had been caught by a crocodile. “I pulled my cousin from the crocodile’s grip and out of the river. Then the crocodile caught me!”

According to Rofhiwa, the reptile pulled him under the water numerous times and swirled him around, as crocodiles do to tear the flesh off their prey. “The moment I stood on the crocodile’s back, it reacted with violence, gripping my right leg in its jaws and throwing me from side to side. I heard the bones in my leg being crushed. While I fought for my life, my cousin was shouting for help, but I thought I did not stand a chance against such a large predator. I don’t know how I managed to get away from it, but I did,” he said.

Mr Mashudu Davhana, who was among the people who helped rescue Rofhiwa, said he had heard a boy screaming for help at the river. “When we arrived with other community members, the boy was clinging to a tree. When the crocodile tried to pull him into the water, we pulled back and overpowered the crocodile, who disappeared under the water. The boy was bleeding and had injuries to his buttocks and left leg. We summoned the nature conservation officers, who came and shot the reptile dead on Saturday (8 January),” he said.

Residents have become increasingly susceptible to crocodile attacks as many rely on the Lutanandwa River for water. The Vhembe SAPS spokesperson, W/O Vuledzani Dathi, said the police battled to contain incidents of drowning during the summer months as people tended to go swimming and fishing. He issued a stern warning to those who might be tempted to venture into rivers and dams to take extra care, saying there might very well be crocodiles that could kill them. They also face the danger of drowning. Dathi urged the public to listen to instructions from officials and warned illegal boat users to stop venturing into the dams before more lives are lost.

Regarding incidents of people who had been attacked by crocodiles in the river, he said that the police were facing challenges as the river was infested with many big crocodiles, which hindered their search progress for bodies.

Date:12 January 2024

By: Kaizer Nengovhela

Kaizer Nengovhela started writing stories for Limpopo Mirror in 2000. Prior to that he had a five year stint at Phala-Phala FM as sports presenter. In 2005 Kaizer received an award from the province's premier as Best Sports Presenter. The same year he was also nominated as Best Sports Reporter by the Makhado Municipality. Kaizer was awarded the Mathatha Tsedu award in 2014.

Read: 2453