The South African Police Service (SAPS) has made new discoveries in the ongoing investigation into the tragic deaths of three police officers whose bodies were recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion earlier this week.
Search and rescue teams have recovered a front and rear bumper in the river, along with a police-issued reflector jacket belonging to one of the deceased officers. These items may be linked to the white VW Polo sedan the officers were driving when they went missing last Thursday.
According to national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, experts are working to determine whether the recovered vehicle parts belong to the missing VW Polo. She confirmed that all families of the deceased officers have been informed about these new findings.
Divers from SAPS, the City of Tshwane, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the SAPS Special Task Force (STF) have also located a submerged metal object in the river, approximately 4 kilometers from the N1. While it has not been confirmed, the object is suspected to be the missing car. The object is currently buried under debris and remains under investigation.
The search operation has been extensive and includes involvement from SAPS Crime Intelligence, the cybercrime unit, local detectives, and private security firms. Their coordinated efforts have brought some clarity to the mysterious disappearance of the officers.
On Tuesday, the bodies of Constables Cebekhulu Linda (24), Keamogetswe Buys (30), and Boipelo Senoge (20) were recovered from the Hennops River. The trio had been off duty and was last seen traveling from Bloemfontein to their station in Limpopo in the early hours of Thursday morning. Their last known location was near the Grasmere toll plaza on the N1.
The search also led to the discovery of two additional bodies. One has been confirmed as another police officer attached to Lyttelton Police Station. The other remains unidentified due to decomposition.
Further complicating the case, police also found a Renault Kangoo panel van during the search. This vehicle belonged to an administrative clerk from Lyttelton Police Station, who is believed to be one of the deceased.
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has confirmed that the incident is currently being investigated as a case of culpable homicide. Speaking to the media, Masemola urged the public not to speculate about the cause of death or what led to the vehicle entering the river, stating that a thorough investigation is still underway.
“This is not the outcome we had hoped for,” said Masemola. “However, we are grateful for the tireless efforts of all involved in the search and investigation. Their dedication has been instrumental in bringing answers to the grieving families.”
The SAPS has pledged to continue the search for the missing VW Polo, registered as JCL 401 FS, as investigators seek to uncover the full story behind the tragic deaths of the officers.