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2 May 2025
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Three missing police officers among five dead pulled from Hennops River, as shocked families identify bodies, Pretoria
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The police retrieved the VW Polo on 1 May 2025, following the recovery of five bodies, including those of three constables, in Centurion’s Hennops River this week. The investigation is still under way but early indicators suggest the officers were involved in a traffic accident. On Thursday, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed that a VW Polo recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion on Thursday was the car in which three SA Police Service (SAPS) constables had been travelling before their bodies were found in the river this week.
The bodies of Linda Cebekhulu (24), Boipelo Senoge (20) and Keamogetswe Buys (30) were among five bodies found in the Hennops River on Tuesday and Wednesday after the police launched a search for the constables, who went missing on 24 April while travelling from Free State to Limpopo.
Police investigations led to the discovery of the bodies alongside a damaged guardrail and vehicle parts suggesting a possible accident. On Thursday, the VW Polo was recovered after water levels dropped and debris in the river was cleared.
Masemola noted that initial observations suggested the car overturned before hitting a wall and breaking through the barrier into the river. While the search was under way on Monday afternoon, a second vehicle, a Renault was found further downstream, submerged under the Ben Schoeman (N14) highway. This car belonged to a gardener who worked at Lyttelton Police Station and lived nearby.
Masemola said the victim’s wife became concerned after tracking his vehicle, which was stationary about a kilometre from their home. The car was later spotted from a helicopter and recovered from the river, together with the driver’s body.
The fifth body, that of an unidentified male, was found in a decomposed state at a different location in the river and was believed to be unrelated to the other incidents.
Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said that the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a drowning incident that occurred in the Hennops River at the corner of Rabie Street and End Street in Die Hoewes, in Centurion, on the morning of Monday, 28 April 2025. “The incident was reported to the Emergency Communication Centre at about 09h00 where a car was seen submerged in the river not far from the low-lying bridge in Rabie Street. Firefighting resources were immediately dispatched by the ECC from Centurion Fire Station and Innesdale Fire Station to the scene. These included a fire engine, a swift-water rescue unit and a district commander’s unit”, said Mnguni.
“Upon arrival, firefighters found the South African Police Service on the scene and discovered that a light motor vehicle was submerged in water with only the rooftop being visible. The firefighters assisted with searching in the vicinity of the area for any victims while more resources, including divers were being deployed to the scene. During the search operations the firefighters and the Police divers found a victim trapped inside the car and they recovered him from the vehicle. Gauteng Emergency Medical Services were also on the scene and declared the recovered victim as deceased”, he added.
“The scene was then handed over to the South African Police Services. Tshwane Metro Police Department and other agencies were also on the scene and assisted with scene management.”
Forensic examination
Masemola said the police were conducting a thorough investigation, including a forensic examination of the officers’ vehicle. “We can’t rule out anything, but we can’t conclusively say: ‘This is what has happened.’ Let’s give it space,” he said.
The autopsy results are still pending.
Mamesola said, “For now, there’s nothing sinister that we physically have seen in terms of, let’s say, bullet shots. Of course, there are injuries, but the doctors will tell us exactly when they finalise their autopsy.”
He said a camera near the Brakfontein interchange had captured the VW Polo driving in the direction of the river. Investigators are also reviewing a statement from a man who had been driving near the officers’ vehicle.
According to Masemola, the man told investigators that he and the officers overtook each other several times on the road from Bloemfontein. At one point, he slowed down to see who was in the other car, and after noticing two women and a man inside, he continued on his way.
Police have verified his account with his employer and have no reason to doubt his story, but Masemola said, “We’re still going to go deeper because we want to know from there who he talked to and what he said. But at this stage, it looks like an accident until we finalise the forensics and have done a thorough investigation on the car.”
Authorities say they are continuing recovery efforts and will work with families to account for all missing items.
Deputy Police Minister Shela Boshielo said the government would assist the families of the deceased, including with funeral arrangements.
Masemola said the search and recovery operation featured various teams, including units from the SAPS (divers, drones, cybercrime experts and the Hawks), the City of Tshwane, Gauteng Traffic Airwing and private security firms.
He added, “We thank the teams for their hard work, and at least we say now we can be relieved, knowing we have recovered almost everything that is outstanding.”
Sources: Daily Maverick, Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services, SABC
The bodies of Linda Cebekhulu (24), Boipelo Senoge (20) and Keamogetswe Buys (30) were among five bodies found in the Hennops River on Tuesday and Wednesday after the police launched a search for the constables, who went missing on 24 April while travelling from Free State to Limpopo.
Police investigations led to the discovery of the bodies alongside a damaged guardrail and vehicle parts suggesting a possible accident. On Thursday, the VW Polo was recovered after water levels dropped and debris in the river was cleared.
Masemola noted that initial observations suggested the car overturned before hitting a wall and breaking through the barrier into the river. While the search was under way on Monday afternoon, a second vehicle, a Renault was found further downstream, submerged under the Ben Schoeman (N14) highway. This car belonged to a gardener who worked at Lyttelton Police Station and lived nearby.
Masemola said the victim’s wife became concerned after tracking his vehicle, which was stationary about a kilometre from their home. The car was later spotted from a helicopter and recovered from the river, together with the driver’s body.
The fifth body, that of an unidentified male, was found in a decomposed state at a different location in the river and was believed to be unrelated to the other incidents.
Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services, said that the City of Tshwane Emergency Services Department responded to a drowning incident that occurred in the Hennops River at the corner of Rabie Street and End Street in Die Hoewes, in Centurion, on the morning of Monday, 28 April 2025. “The incident was reported to the Emergency Communication Centre at about 09h00 where a car was seen submerged in the river not far from the low-lying bridge in Rabie Street. Firefighting resources were immediately dispatched by the ECC from Centurion Fire Station and Innesdale Fire Station to the scene. These included a fire engine, a swift-water rescue unit and a district commander’s unit”, said Mnguni.
“Upon arrival, firefighters found the South African Police Service on the scene and discovered that a light motor vehicle was submerged in water with only the rooftop being visible. The firefighters assisted with searching in the vicinity of the area for any victims while more resources, including divers were being deployed to the scene. During the search operations the firefighters and the Police divers found a victim trapped inside the car and they recovered him from the vehicle. Gauteng Emergency Medical Services were also on the scene and declared the recovered victim as deceased”, he added.
“The scene was then handed over to the South African Police Services. Tshwane Metro Police Department and other agencies were also on the scene and assisted with scene management.”
Forensic examination
Masemola said the police were conducting a thorough investigation, including a forensic examination of the officers’ vehicle. “We can’t rule out anything, but we can’t conclusively say: ‘This is what has happened.’ Let’s give it space,” he said.
The autopsy results are still pending.
Mamesola said, “For now, there’s nothing sinister that we physically have seen in terms of, let’s say, bullet shots. Of course, there are injuries, but the doctors will tell us exactly when they finalise their autopsy.”
He said a camera near the Brakfontein interchange had captured the VW Polo driving in the direction of the river. Investigators are also reviewing a statement from a man who had been driving near the officers’ vehicle.
According to Masemola, the man told investigators that he and the officers overtook each other several times on the road from Bloemfontein. At one point, he slowed down to see who was in the other car, and after noticing two women and a man inside, he continued on his way.
Police have verified his account with his employer and have no reason to doubt his story, but Masemola said, “We’re still going to go deeper because we want to know from there who he talked to and what he said. But at this stage, it looks like an accident until we finalise the forensics and have done a thorough investigation on the car.”
Authorities say they are continuing recovery efforts and will work with families to account for all missing items.
Deputy Police Minister Shela Boshielo said the government would assist the families of the deceased, including with funeral arrangements.
Masemola said the search and recovery operation featured various teams, including units from the SAPS (divers, drones, cybercrime experts and the Hawks), the City of Tshwane, Gauteng Traffic Airwing and private security firms.
He added, “We thank the teams for their hard work, and at least we say now we can be relieved, knowing we have recovered almost everything that is outstanding.”
Sources: Daily Maverick, Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni, acting public information and media liaison officer, City of Tshwane Emergency Services, SABC
