Search for missing 24-year-old Rawsonville woman ends in tragedy

IOL News

16 hours ago

A body believed to be that of 24-year-old Jolene van Wyk, who was swept away in a stream during heavy rainfall, has been found in Rawsonville.
Image: Supplied
A body, believed to be that of a 24-year-old farm worker who was swept away in a stream while attempting to cross it following heavy rainfall in Rawsonville in the Breede River Municipality, has been found.
According to police spokesperson, Malcolm Pojie, the woman, identified as Jolene van Wyk, attempted to cross the river in Slanghoek with her 19-year-old sister when she was swept away on Saturday.
'The search for the missing 24-year-old Jolene van Wyk of Rawsonville who was swept down river at a low water bridge in Slanghoek on June 7 at about 2.15pm resumed (yesterday) morning.
Jolene van Wyk, was swept away while crossing a river in Rawsonville on Saturday.
Image: Billy Claasen Facebook
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"Worcester opened a missing person report.
'Information suggests that the missing person and her sister crossed the river via the low water bridge as they were walking from Rawsonville towards the Breerivier side when a strong stream swept them off their feet following heavy rainfall in the area the previous day.
'The younger sister managed to reach safety, but her sister was swept away by the strong and rough stream.
'Emergency personnel and police were dispatched to the scene, but rough conditions hampered their efforts."
Police spokesperson, Captain FC Van Wyk confirmed that the search was called off on Monday afternoon after the body of the woman was found.
"The search continued, and at 4.15pm, the body that matched the description of the missing person, was found approximately 2 km from where she was swept away. The formal identification is arranged for tomorrow (Tuesday) morning," he said.
"Members of Department of Social Development was spoken to who arranged counselling for the family members."
Rural and Farmworkers Development Organisation executive director, Billy Claasen, said the family also suffered a tragedy after the woman's mother died a few months ago. He said he was concerned about the delay of the K9 unit during the search for Van Wyk.
'The police and emergency services have been on scene since (Sunday) and have resumed the search again.
"However, they temporarily cancelled it at 11am because the water was still very high. 'I spoke to the father and the sister. It is also exactly four months ago that they lost their mother.
"The sister is severely traumatised and can hardly speak. 'I have now regular (contact) with social services that they send counselors out to the farm.
'I also want to know why the police's special dog wasn't there yet and why the special drone wasn't flown. They mentioned to me that the drone couldn't fly yesterday because of too much rain. 'It looks like our people's lives are not important enough.
On Monday night Claasen confirmed with Cape Argus that van Wyk's body was retrieved 2km down the river. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.
Cape Argus