Police with sniffer dogs look for Van Rooyen victims

POLICE and forensic investigators spent a second day combing through the sand at Blythedale Beach‚ north of Durban‚ as they followed up on fresh information they hoped would lead to answers about the whereabouts of paedophile Gert van Rooyen’s murder victims.

Former Springbok captain Gary Teichman – through his earthworks firm Teichman Civils – has donated an excavator to shift tons of beach sand as police continue the search.

The excavation on the beach – which was marked off with crime scene tape – yesterday saw the heavy machinery digging around a cement pipe in the search for remains.

The site is a concrete storm drain which runs from a public toilet onto the beach.

Forensic investigators paid particular attention to an area beneath the concrete pipe‚ using spades to shift soft beach sand.

The dig was halted temporarily twice to allow sniffer dogs to nose through the site.

Handler Clinton Odayar and his dog‚ Dante‚ moved through the excavated area, but police were mum about the exact reasons why the dogs were sent in. Police and forensic investigators broke ground on Wednesday following a fresh lead in the case which has gone cold after nearly three decades.

Van Rooyen and his girlfriend, Joey Haarhoff, were accused of a spree of kidnappings more than 30 years ago.

They are thought to have abducted and murdered at least six young girls between 1988 and 1989.

The bodies of their victims have never been found.