Three South African police officers who went missing last week have been found dead in a river after a six-day search. The officers, identified as Boipelo Senoge, 20, Cebekhulu Linda, 24, and Keamogetswe Buys, 30, were last seen leaving a petrol station near Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Their bodies were discovered by divers in the Hennops River, located about 70 kilometers from where they were last seen. Alongside them, the remains of two other unidentified individuals were also recovered. Initially, police were investigating the case as a potential hijacking and kidnapping but have since refrained from speculating on the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The three constables were driving a white VW Polo when they disappeared, and their vehicle tracking device, along with their mobile phones, had been inactive since that day. A search team scoured the Gauteng, Free State, and Limpopo provinces for several days. They eventually found parts of a vehicle believed to be the VW Polo and a Renault Kangoo van nearby on the banks of the river.
The police have confirmed that one of the deceased was a police admin clerk who had been driving the Renault. The fifth body found was in a state of decomposition and has not yet been identified.
The search for the officers drew significant public attention, with many expressing their concern and support on social media. After the bodies were located, grieving family members gathered at the riverbank to pay their respects with candles.
General Fannie Masemola, the national police commissioner, addressed the media, stating that the investigation is ongoing and that they do not want to jump to conclusions about the cause of the officers’ deaths. He emphasized the importance of finding their vehicle to gain more clarity on the situation. This follows a previous statement where he warned that those responsible for the incident would face consequences.
The tragic discovery has left the community in shock, highlighting the dangers faced by those in law enforcement. As the investigation continues, many are hoping for answers and justice for the fallen officers.