A 51-year-old part-time fisherman, Sipho Tibani, from Mpheni D2 in Limpopo, reportedly vanished after being dragged into the Nesengani Dam by a crocodile.
The victim was with his two friends when the incident happened on Sunday, 7 January, around 9 am.
It's alleged that Sipho was at the forefront when the trio engaged in fishing and he entered the dam to check where they could place their fishing nets.
The dam, known for its danger, is said to house numerous crocodiles and hippos. Last year, another fisherman reportedly lost a leg to a crocodile in the same area.
A witness told Daily Sun that Sipho's friends heard a sudden splash in the water as he was deep inside where there were lots of reeds.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Makhi fights deadly crocodile with stick
“It seems as if the crocodile first attacked his legs until he drowned and his friends called out to him, but there was no response. They went back after waiting for a tense five minutes but they did not see how he disappeared or where to," said the witness.
A family member, who wished to remain anonymous, said they were informed about the incident by Sipho's friends.
“We reported the case to the headman's assistant, Shonisani Netshidzati, who, along with other residents and community leaders, then accompanied us to the Waterval Police Station.
“The cops called the Search and Rescue Diving Unit members who went to the scene to search for Sipho for hours with no results,” said the family member.
The following day on Monday, 8 January, they continued the search again only to find his cap inside the mud at the dam.
Now the family, together with residents, are raising their concern due to the way the Search and Rescue Diving Unit members searched for Sipho.
The community is left grappling with questions as to how a routine fishing expedition could take such a tragic turn.
Netshidzati said after an unsuccessful search on the second day, they went to the police station with the family to voice their concern.
She said the Search and Rescue Diving Unit team were just blasting their bombs claiming that they were dispensing the crocodiles.
“It seems like they were fooling us because they did not get inside the dam and search but checked while they were inside the boat. We hope they come again and search for at least five days, and that’s where we will admit they tried and failed,” she said.
Vhembe police spokesman Sergeant Vuledzani Dathi confirmed the incident but said that there's no case registered or opened.
“This is because the body or the remains are not yet found,” said Dathi.
