On Sunday, 4 May 2025, the grieving families of three South African Police Service (SAPS) constables are set to collect the bodies of their loved ones from Gauteng. The officers—Constables Linda Cebekhulu, Boipelo Senoge, and Keamogetswe Buys—tragically lost their lives after mysteriously disappearing in April while en route to Limpopo.
Officers Went Missing En Route to Limpopo
The three constables were traveling from Bloemfontein to Polokwane on 23 April when they went missing. Their last known location was near Kranskop Plaza along the N1 highway. The white VW Polo they were driving in was last seen there before their cellphones and the vehicle’s tracking system were switched off.
At the time of their disappearance, authorities launched a full-scale investigation and classified the case as a kidnapping. Resources were mobilized to locate the missing officers, but their trail went cold until nearly a week later.
Tragic Discovery in Hennops River
On 29 April, six days after they vanished, SAPS divers discovered their vehicle submerged in the Hennops River in Centurion, Pretoria. Inside were the bodies of the three constables. Two additional bodies were also recovered nearby—one of them identified as a police clerk, while the other remains unidentified due to decomposition.
Authorities also recovered a metal fragment believed to be from the VW Polo, providing further evidence that the officers’ car had crashed into the river.
Funeral Arrangements Underway
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding their deaths, preparations for their final farewells are in motion. SAPS has confirmed that the constables will be honored with official funerals. A joint memorial service is scheduled to take place in Bloemfontein, Free State, on 8 May.
Each officer will be buried on separate days following the memorial. Constable Boipelo Senoge will be laid to rest on 8 May, followed by Constable Linda Cebekhulu on 9 May, and Constable Keamogetswe Buys on 10 May.
Paul Senoge, the father of Constable Boipelo Senoge, expressed his sorrow but also some relief upon the recovery of the vehicle, as it brought much-needed answers regarding his daughter’s fate.
Investigation Continues
SAPS National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, stated that while the current evidence suggests the deaths may have been accidental, all possibilities remain under investigation. The circumstances surrounding the vehicle’s plunge into the river, and how it went unnoticed for nearly a week, continue to raise serious questions among the public.
The deaths of these three young officers have drawn national attention and sparked concerns over safety protocols for SAPS personnel on assignment. As their families retrieve their bodies, South Africa mourns the loss of three dedicated individuals who served their country with honor.