Not a body search

Police have dispelled  rumors that divers were searching for a second body at the Pet Dam in Ermelo on Tuesday.

This comes after divers from the polices’ Mpumalanga Diving Unit were seen searching the dam on Tuesday at the spot where a suspected would-be cash-in- transit robber drowned on after fleeing from a botched robbery at the nearby Total River Filling station the previous day.

“There was no body search on Tuesday. The body was recovered on Monday and divers remained on the scene to search for the handgun that was reportedly stolen from the security guard and according to witnesses, thrown into the water by the suspect,” said police spokesperson for Ermelo, Capt. Carla Prinsloo.

Divers found a weapon during the search but this turned out to a BB Handgun that had been lying at the bottom of the dam for a lengthy period.

Head of the diving team, Capt. Pottie Potgieter said the widest possible area had been gone through with a fine tooth comb but no weapon was found.

“We have searched the area methodically and thoroughly. Twice in fact. If there was a weapon in the water or anywhere on the embankment we would have found it,” he said.

Anyone who has positive information on the attempted robbery is asked to contact the Ermelo detective unit on 017 819 2321 or 082 373 2672/6.