Bodies of three missing constables identified by families

The South African Police service (Saps) has confirmed that three of the five bodies discovered in the Hennops River in Centurion are those of the police constables who were reported missing.

The bodies of 24-year-old Constable Cebekhulu Linda, 30-year-old Constable Keamogetswe Buys, and 20-year-old Constable Boipelo Senoge have been positively identified by their families on Tuesday.

The police confirmed on Tuesday evening that one of the other two bodies is an admin clerk attached to the Lyttleton police station.

Constables’ bodies identified by families

The police’s search and rescue members were scouring the Hennops River along the N1 for the bodies when they made the grim discovery on Tuesday.

The search comes after the constables were travelling in a white VW Polo sedan from Bloemfontein to their area of deployment in Limpopo when they went missing.

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The police announced earlier on Tuesday that they had found three bodies and later confirmed the discovery of five bodies at the site.

Speaking to the media, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola said a high-level Saps team spent sleepless nights for six days combing through Gauteng, Free State and Limpopo searching for the missing police officers.

After reviewing all available leads and evidence, the police’s investigation took them past the Buccleugh intersection and onto John Voster Drive, which is located between the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1.

Body of admin clerk from Lyttleton police station also found

“Ladies and gentlemen, I am unfortunately not the bearer of good news this evening. We had hoped to find our three police officers safe, unharmed and alive, but this is not the case,” Masemola said.

“It is with deep sorrow that I confirm that our three members have been found, together with two other bodies, one being an admin clerk that is attached to our Lyttleton police station.”

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The commissioner said the investigation and search led them to Hennops River on Monday, where officers found pieces of vehicle parts believed to be a VW Polo along the N1.

This discovery led officers to the banks of the river, where they located a Renault Kangoo panel van.

Saps and Tshwane divers immediately began searching and discovered two bodies – one belonging to the Renault driver and the other to Constable Senoge. The driver ended up being the admin clerk.

Two bodies found on Monday, three found on Tuesday

The team abandoned the search on Monday night because darkness made it too dangerous to continue.

Masemola said the team discovered a third body, believed to be that of Constable Linda, on Tuesday morning. Officers also found a fourth decomposed body, which still requires identification. Later on Tuesday, they recovered Constable Buys’ body.

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The families went to the mortuary, where they identified the bodies of their children and loved ones.

“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,” the commissioner said.

He added that the police did not expect this case to unfold like this, but Saps is hoping for a positive outcome.

‘Painful closure to families’

“Be that as it may, we are relieved that we could provide the painful closure to the families and the broader Saps family. Investigations are still continuing into this matter,” Masemola said.

The search for the VW Polo continues.

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