Divers from the SAPS Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services (WPDS) were deployed to four separate incidents in Gauteng, where they recovered four bodies between March 1 and 7.
On March 1, members of the Ekurhuleni WPDS responded to a scene in Brackendowns, where a boy allegedly drowned at an excavation site filled with water. Divers recovered the victim’s body at about midnight.
On the afternoon of March 3, the Ekurhuleni team went to a scene in Tsakane where boys were swimming, and one had presumably drowned the previous day.
They called off the search on Sunday evening to resume on Monday morning.
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The members returned at dawn, assisted by Johannesburg and K9 Search and Rescue.
They recovered the victim’s body before noon after a K9 dog identified an area in the dam for the divers to search.
In the early hours of March 4, Johannesburg members recovered a severely decomposed body from the river at Lombardy East and handed the scene to detectives.
On March 6, Ekurhuleni members were deployed to Katlehong. A body was visible and stuck on the rocks in the Natalspruit River. The members recovered the body of an unknown adult female and handed it to the Katlehong SAPS.
Inquest dockets for these cases are under investigation.
The SAPS encourages individuals with information about these incidents to contact the relevant SAPS station or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Precautionary measures are continually emphasised to avert needless loss of life, and individuals are advised to heed the warnings regarding the dangers of floodwaters and low-water bridges.
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Communities must understand that crossing rivers at any time is risky because one could lose their footing on the slippery rocks, which could have dangerous consequences.
Witnesses to water-related incidents are urged to provide multiple landmarks to pinpoint locations for immediate search and rescue efforts.
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