What began as an alarming disappearance has concluded in tragedy as authorities confirmed the recovery of three missing South African Police Service officers from the murky waters of the Hennops River in Gauteng Province.
In a somber press conference held yesterday at SAPS headquarters in Pretoria, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola revealed that the remains of Constables Keamogetswe Buys (27), Boipelo Senoge (29), and Cebekhulu Linda (31) were among five bodies retrieved during an intensive search operation that spanned three provinces over several weeks.
“Today marks a dark day in the history of our police service,” said General Masemola, visibly emotional as he addressed assembled media and family members. “These young officers represented the future of our force – dedicated, passionate, and committed to serving their communities.”
According to police records and witness statements obtained by the Johannesburg Times, the three officers were last seen alive on April 3 at the BP petrol station adjacent to the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1 highway. CCTV footage reviewed by investigators showed the trio purchasing refreshments at approximately 8:45 PM before departing in their marked VW Polo.
Colonel Athlenda Mathe, SAPS spokesperson, confirmed that the officers were completing routine patrol duties in the area when communication abruptly ceased. “Both the vehicle’s tracking devices and all three officers’ cellphones were deactivated simultaneously at precisely 9:17 PM,” Mathe told reporters at an earlier briefing documented by SABC News.
The sudden loss of communication triggered immediate concern at SAPS Grasmere station when the officers failed to report in at the end of their shift. By midnight, a missing persons alert had been issued internally, and by the following morning, the case had been escalated to provincial command.
What followed was one of the largest search operations for missing police personnel in recent South African history. According to records from the National Joint Operational Centre (NATJOC), over 200 officers were deployed across Gauteng, Free State, and Limpopo provinces.
“We utilized every available resource,” explained Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya, head of the Hawks special investigative unit, who was brought in to lead the multi-provincial task force. “Helicopter units conducted aerial surveys while K-9 teams searched ground areas. Technical experts analyzed cellular data and highway camera footage to trace possible routes.”
The breakthrough came on April 18, when farmers along the banks of the Hennops River near Centurion reported finding vehicle parts that forensic analysts later confirmed belonged to the missing police VW Polo. Evidence suggested the vehicle had been deliberately dismantled and scattered to hamper identification.
This discovery led investigators to a white Renault Kangoo panel van abandoned approximately 500 meters from the river. According to forensic reports cited by News24, the van contained blood evidence matching the officers’ DNA profiles and several personal items belonging to the constables.
SAPS Diving Unit Commander Captain Moshe Lekgau described the challenging conditions his team faced during the recovery operation. “The Hennops River has been severely polluted in recent years, with extremely poor visibility and numerous underwater hazards,” Lekgau told EWN Radio. “Our divers worked in near-zero visibility conditions, often by touch alone.”
After three days of methodical underwater searches, divers located and recovered five bodies from a deep section of the river near Erasmia. The remains were transported to the Tshwane mortuary, where family members made the heartbreaking identifications.
Dr. Sarah Molefe, chief pathologist at the Gauteng Forensic Pathology Services, confirmed to the Mail & Guardian that preliminary examinations indicate the officers suffered multiple traumatic injuries consistent with assault before their deaths. Complete autopsy results are expected within two weeks.
While authorities have not yet made arrests, General Masemola announced that investigators are pursuing several “promising leads” related to an organized criminal syndicate operating along the N1 corridor. Intelligence reports published in the Sunday Times last month highlighted increasing criminal activity targeting law enforcement in the region.
“We have reason to believe our officers were specifically targeted because of ongoing investigations into vehicle trafficking operations in the area,” stated Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, who oversees the detective division.
SAPS has announced a substantial reward of R350,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible. This represents an increase from the standard reward offering, reflecting the severity of the crime against law enforcement personnel.
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of support from across South Africa. According to the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU), which spoke to Daily Maverick, a memorial fund for the families has already raised over R1.2 million. Communities around Gauteng have organized vigils, with thousands attending a candlelight ceremony at the Johannesburg Police Memorial last night.
Minister of Police Bheki Cele, speaking at the vigil as reported by ENCA, vowed that “every resource of the state will be directed toward finding those responsible for this heinous crime against those who dedicated their lives to protecting our citizens.”
The bodies of Constables Buys, Senoge, and Linda will be returned to their families for burial following completion of forensic examinations. SAPS has announced that all three will receive full police honors at their funerals, scheduled for next week.
Anyone with information regarding this case is urged to contact the SAPS Crime Stop hotline at 08600 10111 or submit anonymous tips via the MySAPS App.
