Search continues for man believed to have drowned

THE SEARCH for a Hartswater resident, Jean Claudi Klaassens, who is believed to have drowned in a canal near Bonita Park, entered its third day yesterday.

Community members expressed their helplessness, noting that the water in the canal remained exceptionally deep.

There was also concern that “people drink the water from the canal.”

Glenda Fish, who was visiting family and conducting a political campaign in Hartswater this week, said Klaaseens was the son of one of their Patriotic Alliance (PA) members.

“It is believed that he went fishing with a friend [on March 12] and he fell into a canal that is used for the irrigation of crops in the Vaalharts area. His friend unsuccessfully tried to pull him out of the water. The canal is not fenced off and poses a danger to the safety of children and residents in the nearby settlement,” said Fish.

Northern Cape police spokesperson Lieutenant-colonel Sergio Kock confirmed that the SAPS Search and Rescue unit and the Hartswater SAPS, with the assistance of community members, were searching for a 35-year-old man who apparently fell into a canal in Hartswater.

“Preliminary investigations indicate that the man was fishing on Tuesday, at about midday, when he reportedly fell into the canal, which is situated in Bonita Park, Hartswater,” said Kock.

He added that the search was continuing.

A spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), Amogelang

Moholoeng, said that the Vaalharts Water Users Association had reduced the water level by 30 percent in the Hartswater canal to assist in the search.

“The department appeals to community members, in the interest of their safety, to desist from fishing at the canals. The department will monitor the situation and give space to the police to do their job and any changes to the levels of the canal will be communicated,” said Moholoeng.

Phokwane Municipality spokesperson Kgalalelo Letshabo added that the mayor was engaging with the relevant authorities including the CEO of Vaalharts Water to ensure that the body is retrieved from the water canal.

“The municipality sends condolences to the family regarding this tragic, unfortunate incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with them,” added Letshabo.