A family cleansing ritual meant to bring renewal and healing ended in heartbreak last weekend in Mamelodi, Pretoria, when a mother and her three adult children drowned in the Delfie Quarry Dam at Pienaarsport.
Gauteng police reported that the 51-year-old mother, her 36-year-old daughter, and two sons in their twenties entered the water as part of the ceremony but never resurfaced. A seven-year-old girl, the youngest family member who did not take part, raised the alarm after realizing the group had not returned.
Emergency responders, including the SAPS diving unit, rushed to the scene. The mother and daughter’s bodies were recovered soon after, while the search for the two sons continued into the next day. Despite the dam’s depth and murky waters, divers retrieved the remaining bodies on Monday, 4 August.
Boschkop police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the tragic incident. Authorities are reminding communities to exercise caution when performing traditional rituals involving water to prevent further loss of life.
