Gauteng: Ongoing search for three children suspected to be missing

Gerhard Potgieter, NSRI Gauteng station commander, said: At 06h05, Sunday, 2 March, NSRI Gauteng duty crew were activated following a request for assistance from SARZA (Search and Rescue South Africa) and the SA Police Services, preparing to commence a search, at Sunnyside, City of Tshwane, following eyewitness reports of possibly 3 children suspected to have been swept away in flash floods.

On Saturday the SA Police Services had received an eyewitness report of at least 3 children reportedly caught in flash floods and swept away down flooded waterways, in the vicinity of the Cilliers Street and Walkers Spruit crossing, Sunnyside, City of Tshwane.

NSRI Witbank duty was activated to join NSRI Gauteng

NSRI Gauteng and NSRI Witbank swift water rescue swimmers joined the SA Police Services, Tshwane Police Water Policing and Diving Services, Sidebeng Police K9 Search and Rescue, Ekurhuleni Police K9 Search and Rescue, SARZA and Tshwane Fire and Rescue Services.

A Gauteng Traffic Police helicopter joined in the search.

4 search teams were deployed to search from the reported entry point - at Cilliers Street and Walkers Spruit, and search efforts reached the N4 Freeway, at the Apies River crossing.

The extensive, air, water and river banks search operation and patrols, throughout Sunday yielded no further information and no signs of the suspected missing children.

There remain no signs of the children, suspected to have been swept away, and Police are investigating.

Police have launched an investigation and at this stage there remains no missing persons reports opened that may be related to this case.