SAD?| Five family members are currently stranded on a small island in the Thekwane River in Ndolwane, Plumtree, since Sunday, 21 December 2025.
Villagers say the water levels keep rising fast and the island is slowly going under water. The family is holding onto trees to avoid being swept away as the water keeps rising after many days of heavy rain.
The family was trying to cross the Thekwane River using a donkey-drawn cart after harvesting mopane worms (madora). While crossing, the river suddenly became strong and washed away the donkeys. The family survived by rushing to a small island in the river. However, they later became trapped there as the water continued to rise. The family members are: Lethiwe (born 1977), Wiseman (born 2009), Marylene (born 2010), Bhorongi (14 years old), and Gogo Na Trial (date of birth unknown).
The most painful part is that villagers have reported this situation to the police many times over the past three days, but no rescue has been done. The family has now been trapped for three days without food or clean water.
