On Sunday, 27 October, and Tuesday, 29 October 2024, the South African Police Service (SAPS) Ekurhuleni Water Policing and Diving Services, along with the K9 Search and Rescue Unit, responded to two separate incidents in Gauteng, resulting in the recovery of five bodies.
The first incident occurred late Sunday afternoon when Ekurhuleni Water Policing and Diving Services were dispatched to the Natalspruit River near Kaunda Street in Zonkizizwe. Two boys, part of a larger group, reportedly went underwater while swimming and did not resurface. After a 30-minute search, divers recovered the bodies of the two boys at a depth of about three meters, and they were handed over to Zonkizizwe SAPS for further investigation.
In the second incident, on Tuesday morning, police and rescue teams were called to the intersection of Liverpool and Bradford Roads in Benoni after three men from a plumbing company went missing the previous evening. The men had reportedly entered a sewage drainage manhole around 8:30 p.m. to perform maintenance. With the high levels of methane gas and potential risks involved, several attempts were made to locate the men safely.
With the supervision of Warrant Officer Chris Swanepoel, a tripod stand and high-angle rope techniques were used to lower officers into the manhole. Warrant Officers Martin Bann and Len Willemse, equipped with hazmat suits and breathing apparatus, located and recovered the bodies, which were handed over to Benoni SAPS.
The SAPS expressed gratitude to all team members for their coordination and efforts in these operations. Inquest dockets have been opened, and anyone with information is urged to contact SAPS or Crime Stop at 08600 10111.
