‘He was just a loving child, a joy to all’ – Greenside High headboy’s dad reflects on tragic loss

Reza Saloojee

Cape Town – Bilal Saloojee, the father of Reza Saloojee, the 18-year-old head boy of Greenside High School in Johannesburg who tragically drowned at the Vaal Dam during a family outing, has described his son as a caring and loving child.

Bilal said that Reza excelled both academically and socially, Times Live reported.

“He was just a loving child. He was the joy of the world.

“He was a head boy at Greenside High. He’s done exceptionally well at school, academically and socially, being part of their leadership team and involved with their activities,” the report quoted the father as saying.

Reza drowned on Sunday during a family outing.

Bilal, detailed the tragic events leading to his son’s death, explaining that Reza drowned while trying to retrieve a floating tackle box that had blown into the water. Despite his efforts to rescue it, the strong current pulled him under.

“… the water took him. The current was quite strong, and he went out quite far,” said Bilal.

Reza’s body was recovered on Tuesday afternoon after a three-day search involving teams from various regions.

Spokesperson for the Gauteng police Colonel Kweza Nxolo, confirmed that the body has been recovered.

“The three day search for the 18-year-old boy who drowned on Sunday afternoon in the Vaal dam has ended tragically today when the SAPS divers found his body inside the dam,” IOL quoted her as saying.

She said that the victim’s family was present at the scene when SAPS divers located the body around 4 p.m.

Gauteng police have opened an inquest docket.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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