Five bodies recovered as Gauteng water police recover remains
An unidentified body recovered from a Soshanguve river was among five bodies recovered by Gauteng water police during four separate incidents over three days.
Water policing and diving units retrieved five bodies from streams across Gauteng during four separate emergency call-outs in late September.
Tshwane Water Policing and Diving Services (TWPDS) members responded to the Soshanguve scene on September 29 at about 12:15, after a report of a body floating in the water.
The body was recovered from the river after members of the Provincial Criminal Record Centre completed their investigation at the scene.
According to Gauteng Police Emergency Services media liaison Warrant Officer Frans Spang, it was impossible to determine the person’s gender and race because the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition.
The body was subsequently handed over to Soshanguve SAPS, with an inquest docket opened as investigations continue.
The Soshanguve recovery was one of four incidents Gauteng water policing and diving teams attended to between Monday, September 28, and Wednesday, September 30.
Three bodies retrieved following Hercules shoot-out
On Monday, September 28, TWPDS members recovered three bodies from a water stream next to the R80 highway in Hercules after an alleged shoot-out involving members of the SAPS Special Task Force, Tactical Response Team and alleged armed robbers.
A fourth body was recovered on Tuesday, September 29, from a stream at the corner of Cabot Street and Pierre Simond Avenue in Roodepoort.
The deceased was identified as an unknown African male and was also in an advanced stage of decomposition.
Kliprivier search yields no trace of reported foetus
On Wednesday, September 30, Ekurhuleni water police searched approximately 2km of the Riets Spruit in Kliprivier following reports that a foetus had been seen in the water.
Spang said the search, assisted by a K9 Search and Rescue dog, was later called off after no trace was found.
Spang urged residents to provide multiple identifiable landmarks when reporting water-related incidents to help emergency teams locate scenes quickly.
ALSO READ: Soshanguve police open inquest after human remains found in river
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