Cape Town - The Department of Water and Sanitation has cautioned the public, especially those who traditionally go to rivers to perform their religious activities, to steer clear of water bodies during the coming Easter weekend.
“During Easter holidays, people of different faiths traditionally go to rivers to perform their religious activities such as baptism, among others. This practice has proven dangerous in most cases as the department has been alerted of incidences of drownings in the past,” the department said in a statement.
Departmental spokesperson Sputnik Ratau said the recent downpours in some parts of the country will make it even more dangerous to conduct such religious practices as water levels in certain rivers have increased sharply.
“While we respect people’s religious beliefs, it is equally our responsibility as government to alert everyone about the danger associated with baptism in raging rivers, particularly during this period. Being religious should not lead to deaths of innocent people. The safety of everyone is our priority, therefore, we encourage everyone to find alternative ways of baptism to ensure safety,” said Ratau.
He added that the current rainfall in many parts of South Africa is expected to continue and water levels in rivers and dams are equally expected to rise sharply.
Ratau explained that dams and rivers have undercurrents, and it is dangerous to step into water when one does not know the depth of the water.
“Both these unknowns are very dangerous and can cause fatal injuries, coupled with the fact that there are floating objects that cannot be seen,” Ratau said.
The Department said it will continue to monitor all dams and release water where necessary to relieve pressure off the dams, ensuring safety of those living downstream.