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Johannesburg - Mayor Herman Mashaba has sent his condolences to the family of the three-year-old girl who drowned during flash floods in Alexandra last month.
On Friday it was confirmed that the body discovered two weeks after the floods was that of Everlate Chauke.
"Everlate was a three-year-old girl whose life was taken far too soon. I pray that the Chauke family can find some closure in the fact that their daughter has been found," Mashaba said.
He said no parent should ever have to bury their own child. He could not imagine anything more painful.
Earlier on Friday, police spokesperson Captain Kay Makhubela said a comparative DNA test had confirmed that the body found after two weeks of searching was that of Everlate. Police got DNA samples from her parents and expedited the testing.
On Wednesday, November 9, Everlate, her father Shadrick, and his wife were in their makeshift home in Alexandra, next to the Jukskei River, when it started raining heavily. When water began filling their dwelling, they climbed a tree.
Her mother was on one branch, while Everlate and her father were on another. The branch broke and Everlate fell into the river. Shadrick jumped in after her, but was forced to swim back to safety without her.
Her body was found in Buccleuch, about 10km away, on November 22.
