Search for child in drain called off
RABIE RIDGE - Johannesburg Emergency Services and the Rabie Ridge police have called off the search for a missing child believed to have been swept away in a storm drain in Rabie Ridge Ext 4.
On 3 January a witness reported to Rabie Ridge police that a child had fallen into a storm drain. Police and emergency services searched for the child for two days, but all they found was a school jersey.
Emergency services spokesperson Nana Radebe said, “The reason we called off the search is because there is not much information to go by. We will continue the search if a missing persons report is opened with a police station.”
Radebe added that the gender of the child was not known. “A person who claims to have seen a child been swept away into the open channel of the storm drain said it was a girl, other reports claim it was a boy. We are not sure of anything at this point.”
Rabie Ridge police spokesperson Joyce Sitshedi said, “We are hoping someone will report a missing child so that we can know for sure if a child is missing.”
Ward 80 councillor Queen Sikweqa said, “This matter is difficult. Police and emergency services have had to call off a search for the child because there is not much information to go by. It is hard to call off a search in case there really is a child who fell in. On the other hand, if the child’s parents are illegal immigrants they will not quickly come forward to report as they are afraid of being arrested.”
Sikweqa said she went to two primary schools to check if any child had not attended school.
Police are asking anyone with information to please contact Rabie Ridge police station on 011 310 0410
3 February, 4pm:
Rabie Ridge police said that a child is believed to have fallen into an open channel of a storm drain in Rabie Ridge Extension 4.
Constable Johannes Mathebula said, “At this point we do not know for sure if it was a boy or girl. A witness claims it was a boy wearing a school uniform. We have found a school jersey down-stream.”
Mathebula said the parents, name of the child, age or the school the child goes to is unknown at this stage. “We have been searching since 7am on 3 February. We will continue until we find the child,” he said.
Ward 80 councillor Queen Sikweqa was also at the scene. She told Midrand Reporter that a tuckshop owner told police and EMS personnel that a woman saw a child fall into the storm drain. “The man said the woman tried to rescue the child but also fell in. The tuckshop owner pulled the woman out but could not find the child. The woman and the child are unrelated.”
Councillor Sikweqa added, “This situation is so painful, at this point we believe a child fell in, now that a school jersey has been found, our suspicions are sounding possible.”
Anyone with information please contact Rabie Ridge Police Station on 011 310 0410
