Hearts Break as Body of Joburg Floods Toddler Found in Jukskei River

South Africans have expressed their grief and sadness as Gauteng police confirmed that a body of a toddler was found upstream in Jukskei River on Tuesday.

The body of the little child was found by construction workers, who were rebuilding a damaged wall at a home in Buccleuch, north of Johannesburg, near the river.

Police could not confirm if the body was that of three-year-old Everite Chauke, who was swept away when heavy flash floods swelled the Jukskei River in Alexandra on 9 November.

However, her parents, who underwent counselling, were due to view and identify the body of the girl on Wednesday morning. (At the time of publishing, no confirmation had yet been  announced.)

Everite’s father Shadrick and her mother Cynthia were in their shack when disaster struck.

The Chauke family climbed a tree in an effort to seek shelter but their three-year-old slipped and fell into the Jukskei when a branch broke. Despite Shadrick trying by all means to save the toddler’s life, she disappeared into the water.

Rescue officers have been searching for her body along the Jukskei from Alexandra to Hartbeespoort Dam.

President Jacob Zuma visited the area and the Chauke family a few days after the flood. At the time Everite’s emotional father relived the fateful incident to the President.

Chauke, who is originally from Mozambique, told the President that his only wish is that they find his daughter and that he be provided with immigration permits and a job so that he can support his family.

Speaking to the media after visiting the family in their temporary home – President Zuma said what happened to the Chauke family was very sad.

Today South Africans around the country expressed their sadness on social media for the family.

At least six people were killed during the devastating Joburg Floods earlier this month.

About ten days ago another flood victim was discovered when informal recyclers, searching for plastic, found  the body of a 34-year-old pregnant woman in a spruit in Edenvale. According to local reports, the woman’s family said she had been stuck in her car and her last message to them had been “I am trapped. I cannot get out.”

Source: SAnews.gov.za

Acting Premier Paul Mashatile consoles the Chauke family who lost their daughter Evenita in the #flashfloods pic.twitter.com/MhO9BvwUI8

— Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) November 10, 2016

https://twitter.com/GateInv/status/796973285959405568

View pictures of Johannesburg Floods, 09 November 2016 – #JoburgFloods