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17 May 2024
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Two bodies discovered in basement of Pretoria building while rescuing an injured victim
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The Tshwane Emergency Services Department was notified of a building on fire at corners of Bosman Street and Pretorius Street at about 04h32 on Tuesday, 14 May 2024. Deputy chief Charles Mabaso, public information and liaison officer for the City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said, “Upon arrival at scene, firefighters found that the building was not on fire but that there was a man who had fallen to a basement of the building through a lift shaft. The police found on the scene requested emergency services personnel to assist with lights and provide access to the victim. An opening was cut on a still door of the basement garage and a step ladder was used to access the injured victim.”
Acting District Commander Mervyn van Ginkel briefing the crews before going into the basement to recover the bodies. The crews wore wetsuits and Class B Hazmat suits to conduct the recovery.
The male patient was rescued, treated and transported to hospital in a stable condition.
Mabaso added, “Upon further investigation of the scene, firefighters discovered two decomposed bodies floating in the water in a lift shaft. The scene was immediately declared a crime scene by the South African Police Services (SAPS). Emergency Services however remained on the scene to assist with the recovery the two bodies under the Command of the SAPS.”
Crews went through decontamination after the recovery.
The cause of the death of the two victims and the injured is under police investigation.
False social media claims regarding an incident
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department would like to refute claims that emergency services and law enforcement agencies recovered ten bodies suspected to be of nyaope boys in a building situated on the corner of Bosman and Pretorius Street in the Pretoria inner city on 14 May 2024.
In a TikTok video widely circulated on various social media platforms, a voice of a woman could be heard saying, “it is unclear how many bodies were recovered but people on the streets say that it is 10 to 13 bodies that is been recovered from the scene”. The voice continues to say that “some people go as far to say that there were bones recovered”.
It was determined that the building belongs to the Department of Public Works and any information regarding the building may be forwarded to them.
Source: Deputy chief Charles Mabaso, public information and liaison officer for the City of Tshwane Emergency Services
Acting District Commander Mervyn van Ginkel briefing the crews before going into the basement to recover the bodies. The crews wore wetsuits and Class B Hazmat suits to conduct the recovery.
The male patient was rescued, treated and transported to hospital in a stable condition.
Mabaso added, “Upon further investigation of the scene, firefighters discovered two decomposed bodies floating in the water in a lift shaft. The scene was immediately declared a crime scene by the South African Police Services (SAPS). Emergency Services however remained on the scene to assist with the recovery the two bodies under the Command of the SAPS.”
Crews went through decontamination after the recovery.
The cause of the death of the two victims and the injured is under police investigation.
False social media claims regarding an incident
The City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department would like to refute claims that emergency services and law enforcement agencies recovered ten bodies suspected to be of nyaope boys in a building situated on the corner of Bosman and Pretorius Street in the Pretoria inner city on 14 May 2024.
In a TikTok video widely circulated on various social media platforms, a voice of a woman could be heard saying, “it is unclear how many bodies were recovered but people on the streets say that it is 10 to 13 bodies that is been recovered from the scene”. The voice continues to say that “some people go as far to say that there were bones recovered”.
It was determined that the building belongs to the Department of Public Works and any information regarding the building may be forwarded to them.
Source: Deputy chief Charles Mabaso, public information and liaison officer for the City of Tshwane Emergency Services
