The Easter long weekend is traditionally associated with baptisms and cleansing rituals.

However, persistent heavy rains across many parts of SA has led to emergency services warning the public to stay away from riverbanks.  

CRL Chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva says the safety of congregants must be a top priority.  

"As the CRL, we are pleading with the religious leaders to be cautious as we go into the Easter because most of them will be conducting baptisms in rivers.  

There have been weather warnings especially in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and Gauteng. Wherever in SA, that when they approach a river, they must be cautious that they should not expose their congregants to an unsafe environment. If they see that it’s not safe, they must postpone their baptism that they had planned to do, especially in KZN.”'   

--SABC--