The bodies of two teenage boys who drowned in Blaauwpan dam near Kempton Park were found on Monday afternoon, North Rand police said.
The victims’ names cannot be released until their next-of-kin have been informed, said police spokesperson Superintendent Eugene Opperman.
Five boys between the ages of 13 and 16 allegedly stole a pedal-powered boat at about 4pm on Sunday and went out on to the dam near Bonaero Park.
The boat capsized and three boys managed to swim to safety.
Eight divers were at the scene on Monday, searching the dam, which is roughly a square kilometre in extent.
”Maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less,” Opperman said.
A search-and-rescue dog was also used.
A ward councillor for the Democratic Alliance, André du Plessis, said earlier on Monday that the tragedy could have been avoided.
”I have on previous occasions expressed my concern regarding the lack of maintenance of fences and other facilities at the dam,” he said.
Du Plessis said the dam is to be sold, but since the sale has been pending for more than three years, the Ekurhuleni metro council is ”reluctant to spend money on maintenance”.
The children gained access to the dam through a broken perimeter fence.
Due to a recent fuel spillage from the Johannesburg International airport, there has been a contractor on site.
The clean-up included cutting reeds by using a small boat — allegedly the boat that the boys took on to the dam.
Du Plessis said a council employee saw the children and indicated to them that they should return to shore.
While they were making their way back, the boat capsized.
”We must avoid at all cost that anything like this terrible tragedy happens again,” he said. — Sapa