Fears Grow Over Missing Constables as Five Bodies Pulled from Hennops River

A fifth body has been recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion, intensifying the ongoing investigation into the mysterious disappearance of three police constables who vanished last week while en route to Polokwane. The officers, who had been deployed for Operation Vala Umgodi, were last seen traveling from Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

Search and rescue teams from the South African Police Service (SAPS), accompanied by K9 units and divers, have been combing the river for nearly a week. Their search efforts led to the discovery of two additional bodies on Monday, found just a few kilometres apart from each other, bringing the total to five.

Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, Deputy National Police Commissioner, addressed the media at the scene, stating that authorities are still trying to determine what exactly happened.

“This is as a result of a search by the divers as they have been coming with the dogs, following the river from that side of Hennops, from the N1 up to where we are right now. It’s almost between 8 and 10 kilometres. So, we are still busy processing the scene,” said Sibiya.

At this stage, it remains unclear whether any of the recovered bodies are those of the missing constables. Forensic teams are working to confirm identities while the families of the officers have arrived in Pretoria to assist with the identification process.

The search continues for the vehicle the officers were reportedly traveling in, which has yet to be found. This critical piece of the puzzle could offer insight into whether the bodies are connected to the officers or if the findings are part of multiple unrelated incidents.

Lt-Gen Sibiya urged the media to exercise restraint while investigations are underway:
“Obviously, we do not want to say a lot while the families are not yet here. Otherwise, they are going to learn some of the things from the media, which is actually going to be bad. It could be anything. Remember, it was in the early hours of the morning and at this point in time we cannot really determine up until the investigation is concluded.”

The SAPS has not ruled out foul play, accident, or any other possibilities, stating that only a thorough investigation will uncover the truth.

As search operations continue, the nation awaits answers in what is turning into a deeply troubling and tragic mystery.