Divers recover six bodies in separate Gauteng water incidents
Police divers recovered six bodies during seven incidents across Gauteng, including cases involving young children, and have warned the public about water safety.
Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services (GWPDS) attended to seven separate incidents across the province, resulting in the recovery of six bodies between October 13 and October 19.
On the afternoon of October 13, at about 17:00, members of the Sedibeng Water Policing and Diving Services were mobilised to an incident at Orange Farm, where a 13-year-old boy had allegedly drowned in a water-filled quarry.
En route to the scene, members received a telephone call informing them that community members had retrieved the child’s body. The divers subsequently returned to their unit.
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On the evening of October 14, at about 19:50, members of the Ekurhuleni Water Policing and Diving Services were called to a small dam in Van Dyk Park, Boksburg, following information that firearms had allegedly been thrown into the water.
On arrival, members were informed that a murder investigation was underway involving a female suspect.
According to information provided to the police, a witness alleged that the suspect had shown him an area of the dam where she had hidden firearms earlier that day.
Warrant Officer Frans Spang said, however, that the witness’s account changed several times, and members were eventually informed that they might be searching for dismantled firearm parts.
He said divers searched the area identified by the witness but, after about 30 minutes underwater, were unable to recover any items.
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On October 15, members from all four dive points in Gauteng participated in a provincial diving exercise at Vaal Marina, at the Vaal Dam.
Spang said the exercise focused on maintaining operational readiness and ensuring divers remained proficient in essential diving procedures.
He said that before entering the water, members conducted mandatory equipment inspections and participated in safety briefings based on Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment principles, as presented by the dive supervisor.
The first team entered the water at about 09:00, and the exercise concluded at about 14:00 when the last team completed its dive.
The exercise focused on equipment inspections, underwater communication, buddy checks, buoyancy control, controlled descents and ascents, and equalisation at varying depths.
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On October 18, at about 14:00, members of the Johannesburg Water Policing and Diving Services were deployed to Mountain View Drive in Muldersdrift, Krugersdorp, following a report that a 12-year-old boy had drowned.
According to the information received, the boy had gone swimming with friends at a dam when he allegedly drowned. His body was recovered and handed over to members of Muldersdrift SAPS, who attended the scene.
Later that afternoon, at about 17:22, Johannesburg Water Policing and Diving Services members were deployed to another drowning incident at the Florida Lake Canoe Club in Roodepoort, where a one-year-old child had drowned.
On arrival, members were informed that the club manager had already retrieved the child’s body. Paramedics were called to the scene and attempted to resuscitate the child, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
The body was subsequently handed over to members of Florida SAPS.
On October 19, at about 13:20, members of the Sedibeng Water Policing and Diving Services were called to Hamilton Road in Evaton after receiving a report of a baby in the water.
On arrival, members searched the area and recovered the body of a newborn girl from a stream contaminated with sewage.
Paramedics declared the baby deceased at the scene. The body was handed over to Evaton Detectives, who also attended the scene.
Later that afternoon, at about 16:30, Ekurhuleni Water Policing and Diving Services members were deployed to an incident in Kempton Park, where the body of an adult male was found in a river.
As there was access to the body from neither of the riverbanks, members entered the water and successfully recovered the body, observing no visible external injuries. The body was handed over to members of Kempton Park SAPS.
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At about 18:30 on the same day, members of the Tshwane Water Policing and Diving Services attended to an incident in Sunnyside, Pretoria.
On arrival, members were informed that Sunnyside SAPS officers had earlier seen the body of a baby lying in a small stream, but the body was no longer at the location.
Tshwane Water Policing and Diving Services members entered the water and conducted a downstream search. After searching about 500m, they recovered the body of a newborn baby boy, with the umbilical cord still attached. No visible external injuries were observed. The body was handed over to members of Sunnyside SAPS.
Inquest dockets were opened in connection with the incidents involving the deceased. Anyone with information that could assist the police is urged to contact the relevant SAPS station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Spang urged parents and guardians to ensure young children are never left unsupervised near rivers, dams, streams or other open water: “Children should be warned about the dangers of playing near these areas and must be supervised at all times.”
“Members of the public are further cautioned against attempting to cross rivers on foot. Rivers can have strong and unpredictable currents, which may sweep people away.
“Where river crossings are necessary, people should use designated bridges and avoid entering the water,” said Spang.
