Police salvage three bodies from Sarepta canal

Police salvaged three dead bodies with gun wounds in the Sarepta canal on Thursday morning September 16.

Three bodies with bullet wounds were found in the Sarepta canal in Kuils River on Thursday morning, September 16.

Brigadier Novela Potelwa said crime experts were on the crime scene scouring for clues.

“Reports from the scene indicate that police were called out at around 6am after passers-by spotted the bodies of two women and a man with gunshot wounds in the water.

“Several spent cartridges were discovered in vicinity,” Brigadier Potekwa said.

She said police divers retrieved the bodies from the water.

According to law enforcement sources, this takes the toll to eight dead bodies discovered in the past 12 days in Kalkfontein.

Brigadier Potelwa said cops have instituted the 72-hour Activation Plan for the mobilisation of resources in search of the suspect(s) and are determining the motive for the canal murders.

The police have not identified the dead bodies as yet.

Kuils River Community Policing Forum chairperson Clive Hendricks said he was not in a position to issue a statement, but confirmed that police would meet the community on Friday September 17.

He also confirmed that these deaths brought the total to eight in the past fortnight.

Kuils River Civic Association safety and security co-ordinator Selwyn Swartz: “The community is a bit concerned. The police have not confirmed whether it’s gang-related. I had a discussion with the police as a civic member and they confirmed that there will be a community meeting on Friday September 17.

“Engagements and meetings won’t be a solution. We need multidisciplinary action where we bring all stakeholders and spheres (together). We need social development and other arms to meet and look into this. This is a social issue but it falls in SAPS hands alone.”

Mr Swartz said unemployment could be a trigger for the violence.