Police Confirm That Missing Constables Are Among the Bodies Recovered from Hennops River
Mulaudzi Ndivhuwo
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that three of the five bodies recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion are those of the missing constables Constable Keamogetswe Buys, Constable Boipelo Senoge, and Constable Cebekhulu Linda. The discovery comes after six days of intensive searching for the officers, who were reported missing last week Wednesday while travelling from Bloemfontein to Polokwane, where they had been deployed.
SAPS spokespersons have expressed the difficulty of the past week, as the search team worked tirelessly across Gauteng, Free State, and Limpopo, following leads and clues that eventually brought them to the Hennops River.
"It has been a difficult six days for members of the South African Police Service and affected families, as we searched everywhere for our three missing police officers, Constable Keamogetswe Buys, Constable Boipelo Senoge, and Constable Cebekhulu Linda," stated a SAPS official. "Following all possible leads and after studying all evidence, our investigation led us to between the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1, past the Buccleugh Interchange, onto John Voster Drive."
With the assistance of several specialized units, including SAPS drone pilots, the Cybercrime Unit, HAWKS, the Crime and Counter-Intelligence Unit, and Gauteng Traffic Airwing, the search narrowed down to a stretch near the river. The search teams first found vehicle parts believed to be from a VW Polo along the N1. These clues led investigators to the banks of the Hennops River, where a Renault Kangoo panel van was discovered.
SAPS divers, together with Tshwane emergency personnel, immediately began the search and discovered the body of Constable Senoge, as well as the driver of the Renault Kangoo, who has since been identified as an administrative clerk attached to the Lyttleton Police Station. The search continued the following day, revealing the bodies of Constable Linda and later, Constable Buys.
"The bodies of Constables Linda and Buys were identified by their families, who were brought to the mortuary for identification. The fourth body, which remains unidentified, was also discovered in the search area. We are continuing our efforts to identify this individual," added the official.
The police have confirmed that while investigations are ongoing, they are still searching for the VW Polo vehicle believed to be involved. The exact circumstances leading to the officers' deaths remain unclear, with authorities stating that they are not speculating whether it was an accident or something more sinister until they have all the facts.
"We don’t want to speculate at this stage what led to the discovery of these bodies in this river, whether it was an accident or not. Our investigation will reveal those aspects once we find their vehicle," said the SAPS representative.
The search for the vehicle continues as police and investigators work to uncover the full details behind the tragic deaths of these brave officers. The investigation remains a priority for SAPS, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
"We would like to thank the families, the task team involved, and all those who worked tirelessly to ensure a breakthrough in this case. While this outcome was not what we hoped for, we are relieved that we could provide painful closure to the families and the broader SAPS family," the official concluded.
