Staff Reporter.
Police have confirmed that a body of a police officer who was swept away by flash floods in Soweto this week has been recovered.
The 36-year-old Warrant Officer Ntsako Pataka’s private vehicle was swept away in floods caused by heavy rain.
Brig Athlenda Mathe said the off-duty officer’s private vehicle was swept away in floods caused by heavy rain on Friday.
“Since then, search and rescue teams have been hard at work in recovering the member’s body. The 36-year-old warrant officer Ntsako Pataka was attached to the division: protection and security services (PSS) where he served as an in-transit VIP protector. The member had 15 years’ service having joined the organisation in 2007.”
His body was found on Sunday morning in Mofolo South, with his service pistol still on him.
Xolile Khumalo from Joburg EMS said a family member “confirmed that the body that has been found is indeed that of a police officer who was swept by the floods on Friday”.
The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Fannie Masemola has thanked the Search and Rescue (SAR) and emergency personnel who worked tirelessly to recover the body of the member. “This is a tragic ending for us as the SAPS and the family of the member,” he said.