Police in the Northern Cape have opened an inquest docket after a makeshift boat capsized in the Vaal River near Douglas on Thursday, leaving four farm workers dead and two missing.
A makeshift raft carrying 20 farm workers from Vaalus Farm to Olierivier Farm capsized in the early hours of Thursday. Fourteen people reached the riverbank safely while four bodies were recovered. The search for the two missing workers continues.
The husband of one deceased woman, who was driving the boat, said he felt terrible about the incident. “I’m sad and devastated by this incident. My wife is gone, and now it’s just my six-year-old son and me,” he stated.
Family member Petrus Pringle expressed hope that the remaining bodies would be found soon. Police divers are scheduled to resume operations on Saturday and investigations into the cause remain ongoing.
