NATIONAL NEWS - A spiritual healer drowned while trying to fulfil a promise he made to the residents of Machakaneng, Polokwane Review reports.
Last week, the healer allegedly told residents of the said village that the boy (12), who was swept away by the Olifants River river on 22 December, was still alive and that he would retrieve him from the said river for a monetary value of R13 000.
It is further alleged that the residents agreed to pay him a lump sum of R10 000, but only after the child was brought home.
At around 17:00 on Friday, 10 January, the healer indeed entered the river but never resurfaced. It was presumed he had drowned and authorities were notified, says Police Spokesperson, Brig Motlafela Mojapelo.
South African Police Service (SAPS) Search and Rescue was called in and the body of 30-year-old Mopipi Abraham Phiri was recovered on Sunday, 12 January along the river bank a few kilometers away from where he got into the water.
A search for the missing child from Machakaneng village still continues. Human remains found in the same river on Sunday, 29 December is still subject to DNA examination, Mojapelo adds.
The Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt Genl Nneke Ledwaba on Sunday visited the scene and warned residents to desist from entering flooding rivers for any reason.
