The National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, confirmed that a VW Polo recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion on Thursday was the same vehicle in which three SA Police Service (SAPS) constables had been travelling before their bodies were found earlier this week.
The deceased officers, Linda Cebekhulu (24), Boipelo Senoge (20), and Keamogetswe Buys (30), were among five bodies discovered in the Hennops River on Tuesday and Wednesday. They had gone missing on 24 April while travelling from the Free State to Limpopo.
Their disappearance led to a police search that uncovered a damaged guardrail and car parts along the river, indicating that a crash may have occurred. The vehicle was recovered once the water levels dropped and debris was removed.
Initial assessments suggested the VW Polo may have overturned before hitting a wall and crashing through a barrier into the river. A forensic investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the incident.
Masemola explained that the five bodies were not found at the same time or location, and that two different vehicles were involved in the incidents.
The three constables left Bloemfontein on the night of Wednesday, 23 April. Their mobile phone signals were last detected around 2 a.m. near the Hennops River, close to where their car was found.
While the search for the officers continued on Monday afternoon, a second vehicle was discovered further downstream. A Renault submerged beneath the Ben Schoeman (N14) highway was located with the body of its driver, a gardener who worked at the Lyttelton Police Station.
His wife became worried when a tracking system showed the vehicle had not moved from a spot roughly one kilometre from their home. The vehicle was spotted from a helicopter and retrieved from the river.
The fifth body, believed to be unrelated to the two incidents, was found in a decomposed state at another location along the river. The identity of this individual has not yet been confirmed.
The police investigation remains active, with a full forensic examination of the officers’ vehicle in progress. Although there are no signs of gunshot wounds, injuries were observed. The nature and cause of those injuries will be determined by the autopsy, which is still pending.
Surveillance footage from a nearby camera at the Brakfontein interchange captured the VW Polo heading in the direction of the river. Investigators are also reviewing the statement of a man who claimed to have driven alongside the officers’ car several times on the way from Bloemfontein.
At one point, he slowed down and noticed two women and a man inside the vehicle before continuing his journey. His account has been verified by his employer and, although there is no suspicion against him at this stage, the police plan to conduct further inquiries to understand his full involvement.
Recovery operations are ongoing, and the authorities are working closely with the families to retrieve any missing items. Deputy Police Minister Shela Boshielo confirmed that government assistance will be provided to the families, including support with funeral arrangements.
The search and recovery efforts have involved multiple teams including SAPS divers, drone operators, cybercrime experts, the Hawks, the City of Tshwane, Gauteng Traffic Airwing, and private security firms. Masemola expressed appreciation for the collaborative work and said most elements related to the case have now been recovered.
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