DROWNINGS are on the rise at Lake View Dam in Wattville, Ekurhuleni.
This is alarming local residents and police alike.
The recent discovery of two bodies has heightened concerns and prompted calls for greater caution.
The most recent victim, 58-year-old Madoda Zwane, a man believed to be a prophet, went to the dam to pray on 30 August. Nearby residents grew worried after his car was seen parked near the dam for an extended period.
His body was later retrieved from the water.
According to relatives Madoda left his place on 30 August to go pray at the dam and on Monday, his car had since been parked at there, and this made residents to go investigate.
A post-mortem determined he drowned, with no signs of injury.
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"What surprises me is that he usually prays near rivers where water flows, not in dams," said a relative.
Just days after Madoda's body was found, another unidentified body was discovered at the same dam.
Police have confirmed both cases and opened inquest dockets at the Actonville cop shop. The second body is at a government mortuary.
In light of these tragedies, Captain Nelda Sekgobela, spokeswoman for Ekurhuleni district police, urged the community to "exercise caution when performing religious and traditional rituals in rivers and streams".
A local sangoma, Khethiwe Ndlovu, offered a spiritual perspective to the Daily Sun, emphasising the need to respect bodies of water.
"These waters have owners that need to be respected," she said.
Ndlovu advised those performing rituals to prepare themselves spiritually and physically beforehand.
"Those performing rituals must ensure that before going there they abstain from sex for seven to 14 days. They should also not have grudges or be involved in anything that is not holy. They must clean spiritually and physically."
