Baptism Of Death - Shocking As 14 People Left Dead At A River Baptism

The death toll went up to nine yesterday morning when emergency search and rescue teams found the bodies of seven more people. Five more bodies were found in the river later in the afternoon, bringing the total to 14.

As the search for the missing people continues along the river, Renqe remembered when she stood in the river with her three-month-old baby while her mother held her other child. This was right after a storm at about 5 p.m.

A relative of one of the missing people said that some of the churchgoers told her that it rained for about 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon and that they had to wait for the rain to stop before they could get into the water for the baptism service.

Renqe said that they stood on rocks and the water was shallow, but she and other people soon realized they were in trouble.

"The water got strong all of a sudden and was all around us. People standing on the side were in less deep water, so they told me to throw the baby, which I did. One of them caught her, but then my mother, who was holding my 3-year-old son, and I were swept away," she said.

"There was so much water. As the water pulled me away, I grabbed onto a broken tree that was floating in the water. I moved down the river with the tree. I was so scared that I was breathing hard.

"The tree led me to a river bank next to the Grayston bridge, which was about 2 km from where I was baptized. I couldn't see my mom, and the water moved very quickly.

"I thought I'd see my mom and my daughter when I got out of the water, but I didn't."

One of the churchgoers found me hurting my right leg by the river and helped me get away. We ran to where we had gathered before the flash flood, and the man who was helping me called for help..."

Renge's face, neck, and other parts of her body were also bruised.

She said it broke her heart even more to hear that the person in the church who helped her catch her baby was also swept away.

Near the Grayston bridge, the priest was also saved.

"When I heard the priest had been found, I hoped he was with my 3-month-old baby. When I got to him, all he did was look at me and say, "I'm sorry." Also, I just swept away what I knew, "my child Renge said.

She said that she had been hoping that her mother and children would be found alive since Saturday afternoon.

"I'm just now getting it. I stayed alone all night. I could hardly sleep because I kept thinking about them. I just need to find them. We've been sitting here since the morning, waiting for someone to talk to us. Renge said, "I don't think I'll ever be the same after this."

Robert Mulaudzi, a spokesman for the Johannesburg EMS, said that 33 people were taking part in a ceremony at the stream along Corlett Drive when a storm hit.