WHEN her boyfriend returned home after visiting his family in Limpopo for a month, the young woman was thrilled.
She hit the road to visit him in Benoni, Ekurhuleni. But she had to cross a stream on the way.
A heavy downpour had turned the stream into a raging river, and the young woman was swept away.
The tragedy happened on Friday as the woman (23) walked her usual 4km journey to his place from her home in Heidelberg, Gauteng.
The heavy rains on Thursday had seen the river swell. It flowed too strongly and she disappeared under the murky waves.
Heidelberg police spokesman Captain Thivhulawi Tshilate said the woman’s body was found on Monday after a search.
An inquest docket was subsequently opened.
“The body of the deceased was removed from the flooded stream by the Benoni Water Wing after a thorough search,” Tshilate said.
“It’s alleged that she had been on her way to visit her boyfriend at around 4pm when she tried to cross the stream unaware of the strong current and she was swept away,” said Tshilate
A family member on Saturday reported her as missing to the police.
“A search and rescue team was dispatched on Saturday to look for her, with no success,” said Tshilate.