3 February 2004 Press Release Council to intensify the search for a Soweto boy The City of Johannesburg today vowed to do everything in its power to ensure that the three-year-old Karabo Gwala is found. A senior city leadership headed by a Member of the Mayoral Committee (Mayor's Cabinet) responsible for public safety, Councillor Sizakele Nkosi is currently at the scene for on loco inspection. The team consists of the Operations Director of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department ­ Derek Masoek, Operatioons Director of the Emergency Management Services ­ Davvid Tembe, the City's Chief Operations Officer ­ Sibonngile Mazibuko and the Regional Director for region 10 - Peta Qubeka-Mashinini. A systematic search by divers from EMS Search and Rescue Unit as well as SAPS Search and Recovery Unit is currently underway. A CCTV camera has also been deployed in the line to aid in the search. The Gwala family and the two boys who are said to have witnessed the alleged accident are receiving professional counselling which has been offered by the city to alleviate their situation. While details of the alleged incident are still sketchy it is believed that the child together with two other friends were riding their bicycles close to the excavation site when the three year old fell off his bike and into the hole. This account of the story has been given by the boy's two friends and is being investigated by the police City officials investigating the matter have been asked to determine the cause of the incident. "We will do everything in our power to ensure that the boy is found and will continue to support the Gwala family during this testing time," said Clr Nkosi. The city has instructed Johannesburg Water (Pty) Limited, it' s water and sanitation utility to institute an investigation. It is expected that the investigation will involved the Department of Labour to ascertain if there had been any negligence on the part of the contractor working on site. Should this be confirmed, action will be taken against the contractor. ENDS Nthatisi Modingoane Media Liaison Officer CITY OF JOHANNESBURG Tel: (011) 407 7354 Fax: 403 3494 Cell: 082 467 9228 E-mail: nthatisem@joburg.org.za