The 27-year-old man reportedly slipped into the water and drowned soon after baptism on Saturday, March 18, 2023.

A young South African man has drowned during baptism, reports have shown.

The man drowned at Groot Letaba River in Nwamarhanga village, Limpopo, South Africa. 

The 27-year-old man reportedly slipped into the water and drowned soon after baptism on Saturday, March 18, 2023. 

Limpopo police spokesperson, Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, who confirmed the incident in a statement on Sunday, identified the victim as Ronald Rikhotso. 

“The police in Giyani have opened a case of inquest after a baptism took a tragic turn when a 27-year-old male congregant slipped into the water and drowned soon after baptism in Groot Letaba River in Nwamarhanga village on March 18, 2023,” 

“According to the information, the church congregants led by their priest, had been performing religious rituals and after they concluded the session, one of the congregants went back to the river to collect water. The 27-year-old man, identified as Ronald Rikhotso, reportedly slipped and drowned,” he said. 

Colonel Ledwaba said the police were alerted about the incident and the body was retrieved from the river by the divers from the SAPS Provincial Search and Rescue Team.

The Provincial Commissioner of police in Limpopo Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe cautions members of the community to be careful and wary when using dams and rivers for any purpose including religious activities,” he said.

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