GEGE – A 47-year-old man from Ndzingeni under Gege Inkhundla reportedly died after he allegedly drowned in the Ndlotane River while crossing to get home.
Sources alleged that Sibusiso Mahlambi Ndlangamandla was last seen at his homestead on Thursday last week, where he lived with his mother and cousins.
Sources alleged that Ndlangamandla usually went to a drinking spot along the borderline, which is located a distance from his homestead and was accustomed to drinking alcohol and returning late at night or the following day.
Sources alleged that because he routinely disappeared from home and returned later, his family held out hope that he would return as usual.
Sources alleged that it is not known when Ndlangamandla drowned following his disappearance last Thursday.
Sources alleged that on Tuesday at around 2pm, a man who was using an informal crossing to Siyendle spotted Ndlangamandla lying face down along the river, wearing his clothes, with a bottle of alcohol found next to him. Sources alleged that he may have slipped, fallen and drowned while trying to cross the river to get home.
Sources alleged that the discoverer immediately alerted other community members and informed the police, who subsequently arrived at the scene and retrieved the body from the river.
According to Mlindazwe Bucopho Fikile Ngwenya, she received a report of Ndlangamandla’s passing on Tuesday evening.
According to Bucopho Fikile Ngwenya, Ndlangamandla was last seen at his homestead on Thursday last week, but because he sometimes disappeared from home and returned at night or the following day and because his mother is elderly, the family did not report him missing at the police station. The incident was officially confirmed by Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Zwane through police reports.
