24/12/2025
Bulilima — Wednesday, December 24, 2025
Seven Rescued After Days Stranded on Thekwane River Island
Seven residents from Butshe and Dupute areas in Bulilima District were rescued on Wednesday after spending several days stranded on an island along the flooded Thekwane River, following heavy rains that made the river dangerous to cross.
Initial reports had indicated that four people were trapped; however, the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) of Bulilima District later confirmed that the actual number was seven, five from Butshe and two from Dupute.
Among those rescued are Lethiwe Ncube, Wiseman Ncube, Merryline Nyathi, and Kudzani Ncube, who, together with three others, had travelled to Mbimba area on Saturday, December 20, 2025, to harvest mahonja (mopane worms), a seasonal livelihood activity common among Bulilima households.
According to police, the group crossed the first split of the Thekwane River early that morning using a donkey-drawn scotch cart. On their return later in the evening, they found the second split of the river, about 100 metres away, heavily flooded and impassable. Rising water levels soon cut off the first crossing as well, leaving all seven people trapped on a river island.
The group remained marooned from Saturday until Tuesday night, exposed to the elements as river levels continued to rise. Reports from the scene indicated that one of the women had become too weak to move, raising fears for the group’s safety.
Bulilima Rural District Council (RDC) Rangers, working together with members of the local community, first arrived at the scene on Tuesday evening, December 23, at around 19:00 hours, where they assessed and monitored the situation. Rescue efforts were delayed due to strong currents and dangerous river conditions.
The rescue was successfully carried out on Wednesday morning, December 24, when the Search,Rescue and Security Sub-committee together with community volunteers managed to bring all seven individuals to safety. No injuries were reported and all the rescued were ferried safely to their homes.
Following the incident, the District Civil Protection Committee (DCPC) of Bulilima District issued a strong warning to all communities, urging residents to avoid crossing flooded rivers under any circumstances. In an advisory issued through Radio Bukalanga, the DCPC warned that flooded rivers are unpredictable and can rise suddenly, even when there is no rainfall in the immediate area.
“Community members are strongly advised not to attempt crossing flooded rivers on foot, using vehicles or donkey-drawn scotch carts,” the DCPC said. “No harvest, journey or economic activity is worth risking a human life.”
The DCPC further urged parents and guardians to closely supervise children during the rainy season and called on residents to wait for water levels to subside or use safer alternative routes, as Bulilima District continues to experience seasonal flooding.
For videos and updates, follow the Radio Bukalanga 100.9FM:Community Radio Station in Bukalanga. channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaTTc2W3WHTguJRbmh2x
