Chester Makana

Chester Makana

The police in Thohoyandou are searching for the body of a fisherman who allegedly drowned on Sunday evening after the fishing vessel he was using capsized and he landed in the water.

Police said that the man was fishing with Mulalo Nemabaka, whose body was also retrieved from the Nandoni Dam the same day.

An inquest docket has been opened in connection with Nemabaka's death.

Nemabaka, 18, was certified dead by emergency care officials at the scene.

Yesterday police were still looking for the other man after two days of searching since Sunday had yielded nothing.

Thohoyandou police spokesman Captain Mashudu Malelo said they were considering opening an inquest docket. He warned communities against fishing at night.

It is alleged that the two, like others, were fishing in the evening because they believed it was easy to catch more fish in the dark.

"Police divers were still searching for the body of the missing man by late yesterday but at this stage we haven't opened a case," Malelo said.

"We are just relying on information from fellow fishermen. But as soon as the body is retrieved we will be able to confirm what caused the death."

The drownings have put safety at the dam in the spotlight again.

The management of the dam has been given the responsibility of ensuring the safety of people since more than six lives had been lost there.

In March last year three businessmen drowned while on board a jet-ski boat.

Earlier this year a man and child also drowned in the dam.