28 bodies recovered from rivers and dams over festive period
Atteridgeville, Centurion and the Hennops River were among the areas in Tshwane where some of these bodies were recovered.

The SAPS’s Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services recently announced that it recovered 28 bodies from the start of December 2024 to January 19.
Atteridgeville, Centurion and the Hennops River were among the areas in Tshwane where some of these bodies were recovered.
Each December police officers are deployed daily at the Bronkhorstspruit, Roodeplaat as well as Vaal dams and river ,while being on standby for any incidents that may occur across Gauteng.
Their duties comprise vehicle patrols, vessel patrols on the waters, vessel inspections and checks, resort visits and removal of any illegal items or fishing nets. These duties continue throughout the festive season and into the New Year to prevent lawlessness.

“This festive season was however dominated by rescue, recovery and diving operations. Heavy rain and flooding contributed to members carrying out 10 diving recovery operations, and 17 rescue and recovery operations with six victims rescued. Sadly, 17 victims’ bodies were recovered in separate incidents,” said Warrant Officer Grant Giblin of the Gauteng Rapid Response Services.
These incidents took place during December at among others, the Vaal Dam and river, Klip River, Spaarwater Dam, Sebokeng, Orange Farm, Tembisa, Atteridgeville, Centurion, Hennops River, Rietspruit, Rooikraal, Klein Jukskei (Douglasdale) and Carletonville.
During the festive period, diving services conducted 17 vessel patrols, 193 resort visits, and 196 vessel checks, attended to 12 complaints, issued 67 warnings, removed 26 illegal markers and confiscated hundreds of metres of illegal fishing nets.
Operations have continued throughout January with another 11 bodies recovered and two active scenes being investigated with vehicles in water in Tshwane and Johannesburg.
Authorities found the body of 36-year-old Timothy van Asche from Pretoria after his vehicle was found in the Hennops River on Thursday morning, 2km from his vehicle.

“In light of all these recent and ongoing incidents, the inherent dangers of rivers and dams demand continuous attention. Individuals intending to traverse rivers are urged to do so exclusively at dedicated bridges, as accidents often stem from victims being swept away by rapid currents,” Giblin said.
“Those engaging in baptism rituals should be cognisant of associated risks, considering the potential contamination of Gauteng rivers like the Klip and Jukskei with sewage and chemicals, posing health hazards,” Giblin said.
Individuals venturing onto dams, rivers or other waters for any activity are advised to do so only with a life jacket.
Parents of young children should educate them about the associated dangers of playing near open water and ensure they are constantly supervised.
Witnesses to water-related incidents on dams or rivers are urged to provide multiple landmarks to pinpoint locations for immediate search and rescue efforts.
“With warm weather and the rainy season, heightened awareness is crucial to mitigate accidents. The public is reminded that fishing with nets is illegal and constitutes a criminal offence,” Giblin said.
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