[Image: SAPS]
A whopping 28 bodies from various locations across Gauteng were recovered between December 2024 and January 19.
The Safer Festive Season campaign saw the SAPS Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services intensify operations, which were dominated by rescue and recovery efforts driven by heavy rains and flooding this season.
Every December SAPS teams are deployed daily to the Bronkhorstpruit and Roodeplaat dams and Vaal Dam and River, carrying out duties throughout the festive season and well into the New Year to prevent lawlessness, according to the Gauteng SAPS Rapid Response Services media liaison officer, Warrant Officer Grant Giblin.
Their duties include vehicle patrols, vessel patrols, vessel inspections and checks, resort visits, and removal of illegal items or fishing nets.
“This festive season was however dominated by rescue, recovery and diving operations. Heavy rains 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,” Giblin said via IOL.
Giblin said the teams did over 17 vessel patrols, 193 resort visits, 196 vessel checks, issued 67 warnings, and removed 26 illegal markers during December.
“Hundreds of meters of illegal fishing nets were also confiscated,” he stated.
Fishing with nets remains illegal and punishable by law.
These incidents took place during December at among others Vaal Dam and River, Klip River, Spaarwater Dam, Sebokeng, Orange Farm, Tembisa, Atteridgeville, Centurion, Hennops River, Rietspruit, Rooikraal, Klein Jukskei (Douglasdale), and Carletonville.
“Operations have continued throughout January with another 11 bodies recovered and two active scenes being investigated with vehicles in water in Tshwane and Johannesburg,” Giblin said.
The SAPS Water Police collaborated with the SAPS K9 Search and Rescue, the SAPS Air Wing, the Drone Unit, and other emergency services. These partnerships were crucial in uncovering a few incidents, such as the recovery of a missing child’s body in the Klein Jukskei (Douglasdale) in December; retrieving a man’s body from the same area in January; and searching in Tedstoneville, Elsburg, for a victim swept away by river currents.
“Other notable incidents that occurred were murder victims recovered, alleged illegal fishermen drownings, victims and vehicles washed off low water bridges, victims playing in rivers being swept away by strong currents, persons living in stormwater drains drowning, and workers cleaning pools allegedly falling in and drowning,” Giblin said.
Inquest dockets for these incidents are currently under investigation.
“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.
SAPS reminds the public to be careful with baptisms in contaminated rivers like Klip and Jukskei; to wear life jackets when engaging in water activities; and to supervise children near water and teach them about water safety.
With the warm weather and rainy season in full swing, SAPS urges everyone to stay sharp and stick to safety measures. Avoidable tragedies can and must be prevented—keeping everyone safe around Gauteng’s rivers and dams is the priority.
[Source: Kempton Express]