The parents of a three-year-old girl who drowned during flash floods in Alexandra two weeks ago will go to a government mortuary on Wednesday to identify the body.
Police say the toddler was found upstream the Jukskei river in Buccleuch north of Johannesburg.
Police spokesperson Kay Makhubele says: “The parents who reported the missing baby will be going to a government mortuary to try to identify the body recovered on Tuesday. At the moment we will be waiting to see if there are other people who will come to claim the baby and if so then DNA will have to be done to make sure the baby goes to the correct parents.”
Everite Chauke was swept away when heavy rains swelled the Jukskei River in Alexandra on November 9.
Her father Shadrick Chauke, whose shack is on the river bank, had climbed up a tree with her to seek refuge from the floods. Unfortunately, the branch they were holding onto broke and little Everite fell into the water.
At least seven people died in the flash floods, including a woman who was six months old pregnant.
The woman’s car was swept away by floods near the Linksfield off ramp on the N3 near Alexandra. Her body was found near Lanseria.
Last week, President Jacob Zuma visited victims of last week’s floods as well as the family of a three year old Everite Chauke.
Zuma indicated that plans are in the offing to relocate and build houses for all people living along the Jukskei River at the Stjwetla informal settlement in Alexandra. Zuma also urged people to cooperate when they are to be moved.
Government has vowed to move people living along the Jukskei River to a safer place.
For years, residents have been adversely affected by floods with their shacks swept away.
[Source: SABC]
