Tragedy as 14 church members drown during baptism

Fourteen Johane Masowe churchgoers have been confirmed dead after they drowned in a river during a baptism ceremony on Saturday evening.

Thirty-three members of the white garment church from Alexandra went for baptism in the Jukskei River in Morningside, Johannesburg, when a flash flood occurred, resulting in the tragedy.

Eyewitnesses told the media that the congregants were standing on rocks in the river when a deluge of water poured.

Spokesperson of the City of Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services Robert Mulaudzi told eNCA that the teams first recovered two drowned bodies on Saturday before 12 others were retrieved on Sunday from the Jukskei River, bringing the count to 14.

Officials searching for victims after Johane Masowe churchgoers drown [Image: Screenshot from the video]

“Our residents, especially congregants who normally practice these kinds of rituals, will be tempted to go to these river streams

Victor Ncube, a member of the Johane Masowe church, told the media that he rescued five people from the river who had been swept 100 metres downstream.

In 2021, eight prophets from Vadzidzi VaJeso apostolic sect in Zimbabwe drowned while competing to retrieve a “holy stick” in Mazowe River