| 2025/04/04 |
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Media Statement
GAUTENG – From Saturday 29 March to Thursday 03 April 2025, divers from the South African Police Service Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services were deployed to numerous separate incidents in Gauteng, which resulted in the recovery of three (03) bodies and the rescue of an accident victim. Tshwane members responded to a scene in Tsakane where the body of a missing girl was noticed in the river. Allegedly, the 16-year-old girl had slipped into the flooded stream running between Tsakane and Duduza while crossing over a pipe the previous day. In the initial search on Friday, the victim was not found. The victim’s body was removed on Saturday approximately two kilometres from the alleged point of entry close to Extension 22 and handed over to Tsakane SAPS. In the early hours of Monday morning around 04:00, Sedibeng members responded to a vehicle that had lost control in Sebokeng area and landed up in the Rietspruit River. Upon arrival, they found the white Toyota Hilux in the river with just the roof sticking out and the driver stranded on top. An inflatable raft was used to rescue the relieved victim and bring him to safety. On Monday morning Johannesburg members responded to a body floating in Westdene Dam, Sophiatown. The body of a male in his twenties dressed in blue shorts and black T-shirt was recovered and handed to Sophiatown members. On Tuesday, Ekurhuleni members continued in an ongoing search for a victim who was washed away in the Natalspruit River the previous week in Edenpark. Warrant Officer Bann from K9 Search and Rescue, also a WPDS member, together with his K9 partner, Optimus, combed the riverbanks with other K9 and WPDS members. Approximately six kilometres (6 Km) from the alleged point of entry, Optimus suddenly took the lead all the way, to where he and his partner, W/O Bann discovered the badly decomposed body of the victim in the Rietspruit River close to Napoleon Road. The body was handed over to Klipriver SAPS. Sadly this was Optimus’s last day on the job as after a heroic 10 year career and partnership in the SAPS with W/O Bann he has officially retired from his policing K9 duties. On Thursday afternoon saw Sedibeng rescuing their second victim for the week when an elderly man was rescued from the flooding Rietspruit River in Sebokeng. The traumatized man was handed over to ambulance personnel for assessment. Inquest dockets for these cases are currently under investigation. Individuals with information regarding these incidents are encouraged to contact the relevant SAPS station or Crime Stop at 08600 10111. Precautionary measures are emphasized to avert needless loss of life especially with the current heavy rainfall. In light of all these recent and ongoing incidents, the inherent dangers of rivers and dams demand continuous attention. Individuals intending to traverse rivers are urged to do so exclusively at dedicated bridges, as accidents often stem from victims being swept away by flash floods and rapid currents. Low lying bridges and pipes used for crossing rivers regularly claim victims during these floods and should be avoided. Witnesses to water-related incidents are urged to provide multiple landmarks to pinpoint locations for immediate search and rescue efforts. Ends
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