[ad_1]
Five people drowned in the Vaal River over the weekend.
- Gauteng police have confirmed five deaths following a tragic boating accident on the Vaal River.
- This comes after four bodies were recovered on Sunday.
- The ship was carrying seven people before capsizing.
Police recovered four bodies Sunday after a tragic accident in which a boat capsized in the Vaal River on Saturday night.
The number of deaths related to the incident increases to five.
The ship was carrying seven people when it sank. Two people managed to get to safety and, in the search for the others, a body was found on Saturday.
“The team has withdrawn after successfully completing the recovery operation in search of the four victims whose bodies were recovered closest to Sasolburg in the Free State.
“The ship in question has now also been found and recovered from the river,” police spokesman Brig. Mathapelo Peters said Sunday in an update.
The identities of the deceased cannot be revealed at this stage until their closest relatives have been informed.
READ | Double tragedy on the Vaal: jet ski and speedboat accident, boat capsize
“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the multiple drownings is ongoing. The police will work closely with the South African Marine Safety Authority on the investigation,” Peters concluded.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lt. General Elias Mawela praised the determination, professionalism and attention to detail shown by the team of officers from the specialized unit of the Gauteng Water Police and Diving Services, who they managed to recover the four bodies.
We live in a world where fact and fiction blur
In uncertain times, you need journalism you can trust. For only R75 per month, you have access to a world of in-depth analysis, investigative journalism, leading opinions, and a variety of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest today in the future.
