Gauteng water police recover three bodies and rescue two
On April 1, Ekurhuleni WPDS members resumed the search for a missing person who had been swept away in the Natalspruit River in Edenpark the previous week.
Between March 29 and April 3, the SAPS Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) responded to multiple water-related incidents across the province.
Their interventions led to the recovery of three bodies and the successful rescue of two individuals.
In Tshwane, divers responded to a scene in Tsakane where the body of a missing girl was spotted in a river.
It is alleged that the 16-year-old had slipped into a flooded stream between Tsakane and Duduza while crossing a pipe.
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A search conducted on March 28 yielded no results.
Her body was recovered on March 29, approximately two kilometres from the point of entry near Extension 22, and handed over to Tsakane SAPS.
According to SAPS communication officer Warrant Officer Grant Giblin, in the early hours of March 31, Sedibeng members responded to a report of a vehicle that had veered off the road in Sebokeng and landed in the Rietspruit River.
On arrival, officers found a white Toyota Hilux partially submerged in the river, with only the roof visible.
The driver was stranded on top of the vehicle.
A relief operation was launched using an inflatable raft, and the man was successfully rescued and brought to safety.
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Later that morning, Johannesburg members recovered the body of a man in his twenties found floating in the Westdene Dam, Sophiatown.
The deceased, dressed in blue shorts and a black T-shirt, was handed over to Sophiatown SAPS.
On April 1, Ekurhuleni WPDS members resumed the search for a missing person who had been swept away in the Natalspruit River in Edenpark the previous week.
Warrant Officer Bann, a K9 Search and Rescue officer and WPDS member, along with his canine partner Optimus, joined the team in combing the riverbanks.
Roughly six kilometres from the point of entry, Optimus suddenly picked up a scent and led his handler directly to the scene, where they discovered the badly decomposed body in the Rietspruit River near Napoleon Road.
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The remains were handed over to Klipriver SAPS.
This mission marked Optimus’s final duty.
After a dedicated 10-year career in the SAPS, he officially retired on the day of the recovery, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and service alongside his partner, Warrant Officer Bann.
On April 3, Sedibeng members responded to yet another incident and rescued an elderly man from the flooding Rietspruit River in Sebokeng.
The visibly traumatised man was handed over to ambulance personnel for medical assessment.
Inquest dockets for the various incidents are under investigation.
Anyone with information is urged to contact their nearest SAPS station or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
Authorities have again urged the public to take precautionary measures amid ongoing heavy rains.
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Residents are reminded of the dangers posed by rivers and dams during flood conditions and are advised to use only designated bridges for crossing.
Low-lying bridges and exposed pipes used as crossing points are particularly hazardous and are often the site of tragic accidents involving fast-moving floodwaters.
Witnesses to water-related emergencies are urged to provide rescuers with multiple location landmarks to improve the chances of a swift and accurate response.
