The search continued on Tuesday (13/8) for a Johannesburg learner who went missing in the Vaal Dam two days ago.

Greenside High matric learner and head boy Reza Saloojee (18) was allegedly on a fishing trip with his family when a strong current in the dam reportedly swept him away.

He allegedly went into the water to try and retrieve some of his belongings that had been blown by a gust of wind when he disappeared.

Police divers are still searching the Vaal Dam near the Vaal Marina for 18-year-old Reza Saloojee.

He was on a fishing trip with relatives. Reza went into the water to try and retrieve some belongings when he disappeared.

Reza is the head boy at Greenside High in Johannesburg.… pic.twitter.com/gvyqTMQiKo

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 12, 2024

“Divers are on the scene for the second day and we are still searching for the boy,” said Gauteng police spokesperson Noxolo Kweza.

“We have deployed a helicopter and a large team of divers to search for the missing matric pupil, police water wing divers, and search and rescue dogs are being used for the search.”

News 24 reports the teenager went into the waters while on a fishing trip with family at the weekend. He was last seen battling to swim back against a strong current.

The search for 18-year-old Reza Saloojee will resume at first light.

Police divers are searching the Vaal Dam - not far from the Vaal Marina, where Reza disappeared on Sunday afternoon.

He went into the water to try and retrieve some of his belongings which were blown away by… pic.twitter.com/CeNg6EfqbK

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) August 12, 2024

A team of private divers initially responded to the call before the police search and rescue team arrived.

However, the private divers had to withdraw from the search after the area was declared a crime scene, according to a source who was present during the search.

Meanwhile, a Midvaal family claimed the police failed them after their son’s (7) decomposed body was found 39 days after police said it was too dangerous for private and police divers to enter a local river to search for the boy.

Mosasane’s body was found 39 days after he drowned. Picture: News 24

Jabulani Mosasane (7) fell into the Klip River whilst playing with friends on the river banks in June. His body was discovered by a woman who was looking for firewood near the river on Friday (2/8), a short distance from where he had drowned.

“The water was dangerous for our divers to enter as they would’ve been swept away, resulting in a loss of life. The scene was full of trees that fell into the river and became obstructions that could’ve led to life-threatening entanglement,” said Gauteng police spokesperson Mavela Masondo at the time.

‘The private divers were reported to the Department of Labour’

“In addition, the water was contaminated with sewage. But our divers did all they could to find the boy, searching daily, using sniffer dogs, a police helicopter, crime wardens, back-actor machinery, and drones to find him.”

The private divers hired by Mosasane’s family were not qualified commercial divers and were reported to the Department of Labour for investigation.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cg