About 28 bodies were recovered from water bodies across Gauteng, by the South African Police Service Gauteng Water Policing and Diving Services, from the beginning of December 2024 until 19 January 2025.

Warrant Officer Grant Goblin, said this festive season was dominated by rescue, recovery and diving operations.
“Heavy rains and flooding contributed to members carrying out 10 diving recovery operations, seventeen rescue and recovery operations with six (06) victims rescued and sadly seventeen (17) victims’ bodies recovered in separate incidents.”

Incidents in December were mostly in the Vaal Dam and River, Klip River, Spaarwater Dam, Sebokeng, Orange Farm, Tembisa, Atteridgeville, Centurion, Hennops River, Rietspruit, Rooikraal, Klein Jukskei (Douglasdale) and Carletonville.

Goblin said in addition,  the water Policing and Diving Services also conducted in excess of 17 vessel patrols, 193 resort visits, 196 vessel checks, attended to 12 complaints, issued 67 warnings, removed 26 illegal markers and confiscated hundreds of metres of illegal fishing nets during December.

Operations continued into January with another eleven (11) bodies recovered and two (02) active scenes investigated with vehicles in water in Tshwane and Johannesburg.

Incidents in January were of a search for a man in a river inTedstoneville, Elsburg,  murder victims recovered, alleged illegal fishermen drownings, victims and vehicles washed off low water bridges, victims swept away by strong currents, persons living in storm water drains drowning and workers cleaning pools allegedly falling in and drowning.

Picture: Arrive Alive

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