Police are investigating whether the body of a girl found on Monday in the Liesbeeck River under the M5 bridge could be that of Abieda Paulse, who was swept away by storm water in the Vygieskraal canal.
The identity of the child was still unknown by last night, but it is believed that it is Abieda, eight, who fell into the fast flowing canal in Athlone two weeks ago.
Yusuf Kiriboto jumped into the swollen canal trying to save Abieda, but was also swept away.
Despite extensive searches by police and rescue teams, their bodies have not been recovered and they are presumed drowned.
MISSING: Abieda and Yusuf swept away
Mom Malieka Paulse says police have contacted her and informed her that the girl’s clothes were identical to those that Abieda wore on the day she had slipped and fell into the canal near Vygieskraal informal settlement.
Speaking to Radio 786, the mother said she would be going to Mowbray SAPS first thing today to identify the body.
Abieda’s father Michael Steenkamp was at the Liesbeeck River on Monday, but says he could not see the body.
“I was told to go to the police station as the detective handling the case was not there at the scene,” he tells the Daily Voice.
MIXED EMOTIONS: Michael
“I have a strong feeling that it is my daughter that was found there.”
The father says he has mixed feelings about the discovery: “But I want to know what happened to her and find her body so I can rest.”
Police spokesperson Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana says a post-mortem will be conducted to identify the body and to determine the cause of death.