Jukskei Drownings: Pastor Yet to Be Charged Following Death of 14 Church Members During Baptism Ceremony

• The pastor who was conducting a baptism ceremony when 14 people drowned is yet to be charged for the deaths
• He was allegedly pulled to safety and disappeared following the tragic incident but was found four days later
• Lifesaving SA's Mzi Mayedwa encouraged pastors to use areas patrolled when conducting baptism ceremonies

JOHANNESBURG - The pastor conducting a baptism ceremony when 14 people drowned in the Jukskei River earlier this month is yet to be charged.

He disappeared following the incident and was found four days later. A three-month-old baby is still missing, with the search being temporarily called off.

Police spokesperson Lt-Col Mavela Masondo told TimesLIVE that an inquest docket has been opened and is under investigation following the drownings. He said the docket would be submitted to the court for a decision.

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On Saturday night, 3 December, a group of congregants was swept away by flash floods in the area, leaving 14 dead. The pastor was allegedly pulled to safety by the surviving congregants.

Meanwhile, Lifesaving South Africa has offered to train religious leaders to avoid drownings during baptism ceremonies. The director of Drowning Prevention at Lifesaving SA, Mzi Mayedwa, encouraged pastors to use areas patrolled when conducting baptisms.

Mayedwa said there are more than 80 life-saving clubs across the country, and religious leaders are urged to get in touch for assistance. According to IOL, he added that if patrolled areas are not used for rituals, they risk congregants' lives.

Citizens believe the pastor should not be charged:

Jennyifer De Beer said:

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“It is not his fault, how was he to know the river would come down? It was a horrible thing to have happened. And I feel for the families. It could have been kids swimming there, who would you blame?”

Mphahlele Tshepo wrote:

“He did nothing wrong, and no case was opened against him. FULL STOP.”

Thabiso Le Roux posted:

“He did nothing wrong.”

Sa Majeste Yannick Kam commented:

“What a tragic and traumatising experience. Praying for the families of the victims.”

Trevor Nhlakanipho Ndlovu added:

“Why should he be charged? We can’t blame him; baptism is biblical.”

Jukskei drownings: Alex residents reveal they begged missing pastor to stop baptising people in the river

Briefly News reported that while the loved ones of the 15 people who drowned in a flash flood in the Jukskei River mourn their dead, Alexandra residents reveal they begged the missing pastor to stop using the river for baptisms.

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The mass drowning occurred this past weekend when a group of churchgoers gathered at the body of water for a baptism ceremony.

The church members were caught in a flash flood caused by heavy rain. Rescuers have recovered 15 bodies thus far, TimesLIVE reported.

Source: Briefly News