Five bodies were recovered from waterways across Gauteng during four separate incidents between Sunday (September 28) and yesterday (September 30) reports Kempton Express.

Divers from the SAPS Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services (GWPDS) were deployed to incidents in Hercules, Soshanguve, Roodepoort and Kliprivier over the three-day period.

Warrant Officer Frans Spang, spokesperson for Police Emergency Services, said the incidents are being investigated separately and that inquest dockets have been opened.

On Monday, at about 17:30, members of the Tshwane Water Police and Diving Services (TWPDS) were called to Hercules following a shootout involving members of the SAPS Special Task Force (STF), Tactical Response Team (TRT) and alleged armed robbers.

According to police, the suspects’ vehicle crashed into a water stream next to the R80 highway during the incident.

“Three alleged robbers were killed, and TWPDS divers recovered their bodies from the water. The bodies were handed over to pathology services,” said Spang.

The following day, at about 12:15, TWPDS members responded to the Soutpanspruit in Soshanguve after a body was discovered floating in the water.

The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition and its gender and race could not be determined.

“Members of the Provincial Criminal Record Centre attended the scene and conducted their investigations before the body was recovered from the water and handed over to Soshanguve SAPS.”

Later that day, Johannesburg Water Police and Diving Services (JWPDS) members were called to a stream at the intersection of Cabot Street and Pierre Simond Avenue in Roodepoort.

“A body was found floating face down in the water,” said Spang.

He said the deceased was an unknown male who was wearing dark clothing and was in an advanced stage of decomposition. No visible injuries could be determined at the scene and no identification was found.

The body was recovered and handed over to Roodepoort SAPS.

Yesterday, Ekurhuleni Water Policing and Diving Services (EWPDS) members were deployed to the Riet Spruit in Kliprivier following a report that a foetus had allegedly been seen being swept downstream.

“Two fishermen told police they had seen the foetus in the water. Divers searched the area where it was last seen, covering approximately two kilometres with assistance from a K9 Search and Rescue dog,” said Spang.

No trace of the foetus was found, and the search was subsequently called off.

Police said inquest dockets relating to the incidents are currently under investigation.

SAPS is also urging members of the public to exercise extreme caution around rivers, streams and dams, particularly during the warmer weather, rainy season and school holidays.

Police reminded the public that when reporting a water-related incident, it is important to provide more than one identifiable landmark to help emergency and rescue teams accurately locate the area and begin their search as quickly as possible.

Anyone with information that could assist the investigations is urged to contact their nearest SAPS station or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.

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