/ 19 April 2006

‘Suicide victim’ arrested in caravan park

A Bloemfontein broker thought to have committed suicide at the Augrabies Waterfalls earlier this month was found alive at Springbok’s caravan park, police said on Wednesday.

Captain Lesego Metsi said Gert Louis Rossouw (36) allegedly admitted after his arrest on Tuesday night that he had earlier made a false report (his suicide note).

”The man is held for questioning at the Kakamas police station and there are possibilities that he might be charged for misleading the police on his whereabouts.”

Rossouw went missing on April 10. His identity document, cellphone and a suicide note were found at the main falls, which were in flood, at Augrabies National Park.

A broken rope was found hanging from the security fence at the water’s edge and his vehicle was found in the parking lot with the keys.

Police spent two weeks searching for his body in the strong-flowing currents of the falls and Orange River, using among other means a helicopter. — Sapa