- The body of a 36-year-old police officer who was washed away by floodwaters in Soweto was found in Mofolo South on Sunday.
- Warrant Officer Ntsako Pataka was attached to SAPS Security and Protection Services where she served as a VIP protector.
- He went missing on Friday after his car was swept away in floodwaters caused by the heavy downpour.
The body of a 36-year-old police officer who was washed away by floodwaters that hit Soweto on Friday was found in Mofolo South by Johannesburg Emergency Management Services (EMS) and other rescue teams.
The body of non-commissioned officer Ntsako Pataka was found on Sunday morning in Mofolo Sur, with his service pistol still on him.
Gauteng Police spokeswoman Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the discovery of the officer on Sunday to News24.
Mathe said Pataka’s vehicle was swept away by floodwaters caused by heavy downpours on Friday. He was on his way home.
“Since then, search and rescue teams have been working hard to recover the member’s body,” Mathe said.
She said Pataka was attached to SAPS Security and Protection Services, where he served as a VIP protector and had been a member of the police force for 15 years.
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On Sunday morning, rescue teams searched for the officer in Mofolo Sur and found a body.
EMS’s Xolile Khumalo confirmed that Pataka’s body had been found.
Warrant Officer Ntsako Pataka.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola thanked the search and rescue officers and emergency personnel who worked tirelessly to recover Pataka’s body.
“This is a tragic ending for us as SAPS and the member’s family…we were hoping for a positive outcome. We thank all the teams involved in this operation for their efforts in searching for the body of the deceased member,” he said. Police psychologists and chaplains have been dispatched to provide psychosocial services to Pataka’s family and friends.
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