Pietermaritzburg – Search and Rescue teams have recovered the body of a 39-year-old Lesotho national from the Thonyelana River.
The body was airlifted to an accessible road and handed over to the Health Department.
Police said they were alerted about the body earlier this morning, Thursday, 3 July 2025, by a witness.
Due to the inaccessible terrain, police said the Utugela District Office requested assistance from the Pretoria Airwing.
The witness had discovered a body in the Thonyelana River, at the base of a 40-metre waterfall.
The body was in the Drakensberg area below Cathedral Peak.
The witness also indicated that there was a second victim on a ledge, approximately 30 metres from the base of the waterfall.
Rescuers were hoisted onto the ledge, where they searched for the second person.
They only found clothing on the ledge with no sign of the second victim.
Police said the rescue teams included Pietermaritzburg Search and Rescue, together with Pietermaritzburg K9 Search and Rescue and Ladysmith K9 members.
