Body of Soweto schoolgirl washed away by flash flood found
A body thought to be the 14-year-old Soweto schoolgirl, who was swept away by a flash flood, was found yesterday afternoon by community members, but police said they were yet to confirm the identity.
Police spokesperson Kay Makhubela said: “Community members found the girl in Mofolo, and she fits the description of the girl that was swept away on her way back from school on Thursday, but we we will do the test to make sure that is her.”
Emergency services rescuer members searched for the girl yesterday morning, but they had to suspend their operations because of the heavy rain. However, community members recovered a body they said matched the description of the missing schoolgirl.
Emergency Management Services spokesperson Nana Radebe said. Several roads were flooded, including Gillooly’s Interchange, as well as parts of the East Rand, after Thursday’s rain.
The department of home affairs said three ports of entry into South Africa in Limpopo have been closed because of flooding. Zanzibar, Platjan and Pontdrift border posts between South Africa and Botswana have been temporarily shut. – ANA
Rorisang Kgosana
An armed gang of at least seven people was at large after they robbed and killed a farm owner in Mooiplaats, Pretoria on Thursday night.
Five armed men entered the plot and approached two security guards who were patrolling the fence perimeter. The guards were held at gunpoint before being hit on the head with firearms, police spokesperson Captain Marissa Van Der Merwe said.
“One of the guards was tied up and taken to the house, where the home owner was shot in the upper body.” Johannes Hendrick Kirstein, died at the scene, Van Der Merwe said.
“They the held the wife at gunpoint and demanded to know where the safe was. The gang stole a firearm and more than R800 000 in cash.
“Two other accomplices were waiting outside and another came to pick them up.”
A case of murder and armed robbery was opened and no arrests were made.