Uncertainty surrounds the death of a 24-year-old man feared to have drowned off a beach near East London on Christmas Day while swimming with his employer’s family. Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed on Sunday that the search for Mihle Mbayo’s body was continuing, 10 days after his disappearance. Mbayo’s family is demanding answers after he was reported to have drowned at Glen Eden Beach in Glengariff.
Mbayo, who is from Jojweni, between Ngqushwa and the Buffalo City Metro, reportedly attempted to swim in heavy currents. According to a police report, the incident occurred on Christmas Day. Mbayo and a “family member” were swimming when they encountered difficulty in the water.
“While one swimmer managed to reach shore, the second did not,” Gantana said. A multi-agency search and rescue operation including the police K9 Search and Rescue Unit, Water Policing and Diving Services and a police mounted unit were immediately deployed to search for him The police searchers worked with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Station 7 and Eastern Cape EMS, with aerial support provided by the EMS/AMS Skymed rescue helicopter and a private aircraft. Gantana said an extensive air, sea and shoreline search from Glen Eden to Gonubie had not located Mbayo by Sunday.
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“The search effort is continuing and remains a priority,” she said. When we received a call to attend the scene on Christmas, we did not understand how a person could swim in that zone because it is for fishing. However, Mbayo’s brother, Luthando, said the family was not satisfied with the “conflicting statements” issued after the incident and called on the police to conduct a full investigation.
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