A community in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, is reeling after a tragic drowning claimed the lives of a mother and her three adult children during a traditional cleansing ritual at the Delfie Quarry Dam on Sunday, August 3, 2025.
The victims were a 51-year-old mother, her 36-year-old daughter, and two sons in their 20s. According to witnesses, the family was performing the ritual in the water when they were suddenly swept away.
A seven-year-old daughter, who did not enter the water, witnessed the incident. She ran home to raise the alarm, prompting residents to call emergency services.
When responders arrived, the bodies of the mother and daughter had surfaced, but the search for the two sons was called off until the following morning because of the dam’s depth. On Monday, police divers recovered their bodies after a 40-minute dive.
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo confirmed the tragedy, adding that an inquest docket has been opened by Boschkop police station.
The heartbreaking event has left the local community in shock. Many gathered at the dam to mourn and to call for more safety awareness around traditional practices.
The surviving child is now in the care of relatives and is receiving counselling support.
