Cape Town – Limpopo police’s search and rescue team rescued a priest who was lost in the Chuenespoort mountains for hours after performing a religious ritual on Monday evening.
In a statement, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the priest, George Mondane from Makgofe village, went to the mountains in the early hours of Monday morning for a secret prayer session.
The 33-year-old priest then started to feel uneasy.
He hallucinated and lost his way, said Ledwaba.
Ledwaba said that Mondane also ran out of food and water, as he continued to wander around the mountains.
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“Fortunately, his phone was fully charged and he managed to call for help. The victim was safely rescued at about 6pm, in a search operation by members of the SAPS air wing and water wing rescue units. He was treated for minor dehydration and shock before he was taken home,” Ledwaba said.
Limpopo police commissioner Lieutenant General, Thembi Hadebe commended the police members for the rescue and cautioned community members to be extra careful when performing their rituals in hazardous places.
Hadebe said that this often led to police resources being diverted from crime prevention measures for search and rescue operations.
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Picture: saps.gov.za
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
