SAPS divers deployed to retrieve bodies from rivers

Divers from the SAPS Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services were deployed to three separate incidents across Gauteng between November 17 and November 23, which resulted in the recovery of bodies.

“Members responded to a scene in Parktown on November 19, where the body of an unknown man was removed from the golf course river and handed over to Parkview detectives to initiate further investigation,” said the unit’s spokesperson, Warrant Officer Grant Giblin.

Officers were thereafter dispatched to the scene in Eldorado Park at the Klipriver in Olifantsvlei where an 18-year-old female and 21-year-old male were swept away during a baptism ceremony.

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The search was abandoned on Sunday night due to dangerous circumstances and has been ongoing since Monday morning.

Police divers, K9, Search and Rescue as well as EMS have conducted multiple searches with dogs around the point of entry and a 6km stretch of river with nothing found until Wednesday.

On Wednesday afternoon members were alerted that a body was seen floating further downstream.

“On arrival, members retrieved the body of an adult female from the Klipriver at the N1 north bridge.

“At the time it was not certain if it was one of the baptism victims and detectives from Eldorado Park SAPS will do further investigations to confirm,” said Giblin.

On November 23, officers searched an approximate stretch of 16km of the river.

Even with the assistance of the SAPS helicopter, nothing further was found.

“After extensive searching continued on Friday morning and the water level dropped since the initial start, the male victim’s body was recovered about two kilometres upstream from the female.”

All role players including Johannesburg SAPS Water Police, K9 Search and Rescue, SAPS Air Wing and EMS were thanked for their extensive efforts in the recoveries, giving peace of mind and closure to victims’ families.

Inquest dockets in these cases are under investigation.

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Anyone with information regarding these scenes can contact the relevant SAPS station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

“Anyone going out on to dams, rivers or waters in any kind of vessel or for any activity are advised to only do so with a life jacket on.”

Parents of young children close to any open waters or rivers should warn them of the dangers of playing near these waters and they should be supervised at all times so their whereabouts are known.

“Persons wishing to cross rivers should only do so at dedicated bridges as many accidents occur from victims being washed away by the raging water,” said Giblin.

“People partaking in and holding baptism rituals need to take note of the dangers and realise the risks involved.”

Besides the risk of drowning, many rivers in Gauteng like Klipriver and the Juksei are contaminated with sewerage and often chemicals as well which can cause various other complications.

“Caution must be taken to prevent the unnecessary loss of life and avoid these circumstances.”

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If anyone witnesses a water-related incident on a dam or river it is essential to get more than one landmark to pinpoint the location so that rescue teams can immediately identify where to commence a search.

“With the current warm weather, rainy season and school holidays people should be more wary of accidents occurring.

“The public is once again warned that fishing with nets is illegal and a criminal offence.”