Police in Mpumalanga are utilizing drones and helicopters in a search for a missing man, a 59-year-old businessman believed to have been swept away by the Crocodile River in Komatipoort.
Mpumalanga police spokesman Colonel Mavela Masondo stated that search and rescue teams have resorted to these alternative methods because an infestation of crocodiles and hippos has made it too dangerous for teams to enter the water.
“It’s difficult for the search team to get inside the water because there’s an infestation of crocodiles and hippos,” Masondo said. He added that search operations are suspended at dark and resume the following day.
Details of the Search for Missing Man
The incident occurred on Tuesday, April 28, when the man attempted to drive his Ford Ranger bakkie across a low-lying bridge over the Komati River. The vehicle became trapped in rising water.
Authorities suspect the driver exited the vehicle and was carried away by the strong current. Police were alerted to the stuck vehicle and dispatched a Search and Rescue Team, who found the Ford Ranger abandoned on the bridge with no occupant inside.
The incident took place in the same river where two members of the South African National Defence Force were previously swept away in December 2025.
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