Floods grip Limpopo as man dies while performing ritual at village dam
A 54-year-old man drowned while performing traditional rituals at a dam in Pax village near Polokwane over the weekend, Limpopo police said on Tuesday.
The deceased was identified as Lesiba Moses Molomo, provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said.
Police were called to a local clinic in Maraba village, Ga-Mashashane, where medical personnel showed officers the body of a man lying in the casualty ward, still dressed in traditional regalia.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the victim was performing his traditional rituals at the dam when he drowned,” Ledwaba said.
He was certified dead at the health facility.
Mashashane police have opened an inquest docket to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Limpopo provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe warned residents against crossing rivers, swimming or conducting traditional rituals near water sources, as rivers continue to swell following heavy rainfall.
“There must be supervision when residents go to rivers,” Hadebe said.
Police said investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, the Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA) said at least 25 people have died across the province since the onset of severe weather conditions in December 2025.
Fatalities were recorded in the following municipalities:
- Mogalakwena: 3
- Modimolle-Mookgophong: 3
- Greater Giyani: 1
- Ba-Phalaborwa: 3
- Blouberg: 5
- Polokwane: 3
- Elias Motsoaledi: 2
- Fetakgomo-Tubatse: 1
- Thulamela: 3
- Collins Chabane: 1
Three people remain missing – one from Mbaula and two from Thulamela following recent drowning incidents linked to flooding.
Limpopo has been hit by heavy rains, thunderstorms with hail, strong winds and flooding, affecting Mopani, Vhembe, Waterberg and parts of Sekhukhune.
Meanwhile, Limpopo and Mpumalanga have been declared national disaster zones under Section 23 of the Disaster Management Act of 2002.
President Cyril Ramaphosa approved the declaration following widespread flooding and severe weather, acting on recommendations from the National Disaster Management Centre, led by Dr Elias Sithole, in consultation with provincial authorities.
simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za
IOL News