07-07-2025
Body found in Port Alfred river during search for missing Rhodes student
A body was found in Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape in the early hours of Saturday during the search for missing Rhodes University student, Fulufhelo 'Lekay' Munzhelele.
National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon said the body was found in the Kowie River at about 01:00.
He said it was believed to be the body of 22-year-old Munzhelele from Musina, Limpopo, who went missing in the early hours of Friday at East Beach in Port Alfred.
However, he added: 'Formal identification is in progress and at this stage the identification is yet to be confirmed.'
He said police opened an inquest docket.
According to Lambinon, the information the NSRI had received at the time of the missing persons report was that three friends – two men and a woman – had got into difficulty while swimming at East Beach.
It appeared that the three friends became caught in rip currents, he said.
One man and the woman were able to swim to safety.
However, Munzhelele appeared to have gone missing in the surf zone.
An extensive search operation was launched, which led to the discovery of the body on Saturday morning.
