Johannesburg - Joburg Emergency Services has called off the search for a 3-month-old baby that was swept away by a strong current during a baptism at the Jukskei River last week.
The Star understands that the mother of the baby survived and was helping emergency services personnel look for the child.
There were more than 16 people at the baptism; two survived, but survivors have complained that the pastor of the church was warned that the current was too great for the ritual to take place.
EMS spokesperson Xolile Khumalo said emergency services were using all resources that were at their disposal to find the child.
She said the search was back at the part of the river close to Greyston in Sandton.
“We really hope to find the baby, but because of the weather condition we hope to resume the search on Tuesday,” Khumalo said.
The City of Joburg has been experiencing torrential rains that have led to floods all over the city, especially in the townships.
Emergency Management Services has been inundated with reports coming from all parts of the city. Vehicles sunk in water, people trapped on roofs, collapsed walls, shacks and houses decimated, with little salvageable.
The MMC for Public Safety David Tembe said Region D had been highly affected. In Klipspruit, Soweto, 11 houses were destroyed and 73 people were affected. In Dobsonville, 10 houses, including shacks, were reported to have been destroyed, leaving 48 people destitute. 52 houses also got swept away in Meadowlands next to Dorothy Nyembe, 42 shacks at Matholesville, 11 in Doornkop and 7 in Tshepisong.
“Other areas that also experienced the wrath of the floods were Protea North, Braamfischerville and Princess informal settlement. Eldorado Park, Orange Farm, parts of Main Reef Road and Alex also needed assistance,” Tembe said.
The Star