By Celani Sikhakhane
- Mdumiseni Shabalala, 51, was swept away while crossing the uMzinyathi River with his brothers to fetch cattle near Nquthu.
- Police stopped the search due to heavy rain, as KwaZulu-Natal floods continue to claim lives across the province.
Heavy rain in northern KwaZulu-Natal has stopped the search for a cattle herder who was swept away by a flooding river in Nquthu.
Mdumiseni Shabalala, 51, went missing on Saturday while crossing the uMzinyathi River with his four brothers.
The men were travelling from kwaMalanga village in Nquthu to Mahlaba village in Msinga to collect family cattle grazing across the river.
They used homemade boats to cross. While they were in the middle of the river, strong floodwaters caused Shabalala to fall into the water.
His brothers managed to jump out on the other side but could not save him.
A family friend said the men only realised Shabalala was gone as they reached the riverbank.
“The water was too strong,” the friend said. “We saw him being pulled back into the middle of the river.”
The family has searched since Saturday but found nothing.
Heavy rain has made the river dangerously full, forcing police to stop the search on Monday.
The family fears Shabalala’s body may be found far from the area.
He is the second person in Nquthu to be swept away by a river in one week.
Earlier, another person was taken by floodwaters when a tractor got stuck in the Nondweni River. That body was found three days later at the White Imfolozi River between Ulundi and Babanango.
In Durban, the search continues for Jabulani Gumede, who was swept away in Amanzimtoti on Christmas Eve while driving from Galleria Mall.
His passengers were found and buried, but Gumede is still missing.
On Monday, his wife, children and church members gathered at the river where his car was found to pray.
Pictured above: Police and community members searching for Mdumiseni Shabalala near the flooded uMzinyathi River in Nquthu.
Image source: South African Police Service video screenshot
