The SA Police Service on Friday expressed concern over the number of drownings recorded since the start of December.
North Rand police spokesperson Superintendent Eugene Opperman said the police’s water wing has had to recover 10 bodies in the area since the beginning of the month.
”It is worrying to the SAPS that so many people have already drowned since the beginning of this festive season,” he said.
Opperman warned that people should be aware that water could be dangerous and that young children could drown in as little as 15cm of water.
He said many children drowned in swimming pools at their homes and that it usually happened in a few seconds.
”It typically happens when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in supervision.”
Opperman said alcohol abuse was also often involved in drownings at dams, rivers and lakes.
He said the police would crack down this year on drunkenness and disorderly behaviour at holiday resorts and dams, rivers and lakes.
”… we advise people to rather stay away from water when intoxicated.”
He also warned that the law clearly stated that water craft, like jet-skis, could only be operated by people over the age of 16.
”Police have in the past found and rescued children as young as 10-years-old on jet-skis in the middle of a dam where they ran out of petrol.”
He said the police would be involved in educational initiatives while patrolling dams and rivers in Gauteng over the festive season.
”However, parents… also have a responsibility to properly teach and inform their children about the dangers in this regard.” – Sapa