A tragic mystery has rocked South Africa following the discovery of three missing police officers’ bodies in the Hennops River, nearly a week after their disappearance. The constables Boipelo Senoge, 20, Cebekhulu Linda, 24, and Keamogetswe Buys, 30 had been missing for six days before divers recovered their bodies alongside their submerged white VW Polo.
The trio was last seen last Wednesday at a petrol station near Johannesburg, en route from Free State to Limpopo. Their sudden disappearance prompted a massive search operation that stretched across the Gauteng, Free State, and Limpopo provinces. Authorities initially investigated the case as a possible hijacking, after both their vehicle tracking device and mobile phones went offline the same day.
On Thursday, police divers discovered their car in the Hennops River near Centurion, approximately 70 kilometers from where they were last seen. The discovery brought an agonizing end to the days-long search.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed the recovery, describing the extensive efforts of the search team, which he said had spent “sleepless nights combing the length and breadth” of the region. While early suspicions pointed to foul play, Commissioner Masemola indicated that the current assessment suggested an accident, pending the outcome of a forensic investigation.
In a further twist, divers also recovered a Renault Kangoo van from the same riverbank, along with two additional bodies. One of the deceased was confirmed as a police employee who had been driving the van. The fifth body, found in a decomposed state, remains unidentified.
The circumstances linking the two vehicles and all five victims remain unclear. Police have not ruled out a connection but emphasized that the investigation is ongoing.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community and the nation, prompting questions about what led to the tragic deaths of the officers and the others found nearby. As forensic experts work to piece together the events, families and colleagues of the victims await closure in the face of heartbreaking loss.
Authorities have appealed to the public for any information that could shed light on the incident.
