By Staff Reporter
POLOKWANE – Tragedy struck in Polokwane on New Year’s Day after the body of a 36-year-old female member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was recovered following a drowning incident linked to flooding in the city.
According to police reports, the victim was travelling with two other occupants in a Renault Triber when the vehicle became stuck on a bridge along Grobler Street.
The car was reportedly swept away by fast-flowing floodwater amid heavy rains in the area.
It is alleged that the two other occupants, including the driver, managed to escape by holding onto reeds and navigating their way out of the river. Sadly, the SANDF member was unable to escape and was swept away by the strong current.
Police divers later launched an extensive search operation and recovered her body approximately 2.5 kilometres downstream from the scene of the incident.
Authorities have confirmed that the circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation, while the victim’s family has been notified.
The incident has renewed calls for motorists to exercise extreme caution during periods of heavy rainfall, particularly when attempting to cross flooded roads and bridges.
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