WITH the search for three-month-old Snenhlanhla Renqe entering its sixth day, her mum is hopeful her baby’s body will be found.
Snenhlanhla was swept away during a baptism ritual in the Jukskei River on Saturday, 3 December, alongside her three-year-old sister Lethu, grandmother Sheila, and mum Zikhona, who was the only survivor.
Zikhona said she is still traumatised by what happened and is praying that her baby will be found so they have a joint funeral.
So far, 15 bodies have been found by the emergency rescue team, who have been working tirelessly since tragedy struck.
Thirty-three congregants from Alexandra, north of Joburg, were swept away during heavy rain, and some survived.
On Wednesday, 7 December, the body of a woman was discovered under a bridge in Innisfree Park, Sandton, north of Joburg.
Joburg Emergency Management Services spokesman, Robert Mulaudzi, said rescuers have resumed their search for Snenhlanhla.
He said he hopes they find her.
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“We hope that, if luck is on our side, we will recover the baby to help the family find closure,” he said.
Meanwhile, City of Joburg’s speaker of council, Colleen Makhubele, visited the affected families in Alexandra and also engaged with the residents.
She called for calm as residents demanded answers from the pastor who initiated the baptism.
Makhubele said this is the time for mourning, and “time for answers will come”.
“This is not the time to point fingers. What needs to happen right now is ensure that all those who are affected receive support and victims get a dignified send-off,” she said.
“Respect the families, children, mothers, wives and fathers and all those who are affected.”
