White River – Horrified onlookers watched as divers recovered the body of 44-year-old Hawker, Esther Amina Mathenjwa, who was swept away by a flooded stream in Msholozi, near White River outside Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
Mathenjwa, who sells her wares at the nearby school, was swept away on Wednesday, 14 January 2026, when she attempted to retrieve her bucket that had fallen into a swollen stream in the area.
Narrating events leading to the drowning, Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said Mathenjwa was in the company of others when the tragedy struck.
“The incident occurred approximately at 21h00 when a group of people attempted to cross a stream,” Lieutenant Colonel Ndubane said.
“Witnesses informed the police that the deceased Esther Amina Mathenjwa was the first to cross the stream when she was suddenly swept away by the strong current.”
The police spokesperson said the deceased was a hawker at a local school in Msholozi.
“At the time of the incident, she was carrying a bucket, which she used to sell vetkoek at the school,” Lieutenant Colonel Ndubane said.
“It is alleged that while crossing the stream, the bucket was swept away by the water, and as she attempted to retrieve it, she was also swept away.”
The police spokesperson said the community searched for the hawker all through the night.
However, they were unsuccessful.
“On 15 January 2026, the SAPS Diving Unit, together with community members, retrieved the body of the deceased five kilometres down the stream,” Lieutenant Colonel Ndubane said.
The police spokesperson warned residents not to attempt crossing flooded streams.
Meanwhile, the South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued an unprecedented Red Level 10 Warning for Disruptive Rainfall for Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
SAWS warns that potential impacts include:
• Danger to life due to fast-flowing rivers and streams
• Flooding of roads, bridges, and low-lying crossings
• Widespread damage to settlements, property, and critical infrastructure
• Displacement of communities and disruption to essential services
This Red Level 10 Warning remains applicable while conditions continue to pose a severe risk to life, livelihoods, and infrastructure.
