The deaths of three SAPS constables, whose bodies were pulled from the Hennops River in Centurion, have been ruled a tragic accident — with police firmly dismissing any foul play.
However, the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and delayed discovery have sparked public suspicion and calls for greater transparency.
According to the SAPS, preliminary findings indicate that the white VW Polo carrying the officers overturned, struck a barrier, and plunged into the river.
Authorities have dismissed any suggestions of foul play.
The three officers, 30-year-old Keamogetswe Buys, 20-year-old Boipelo Senoge, and 24-year-old Cebekhulu Linda, had been reported missing after last being seen at a petrol station near the Grasmere Toll Plaza in the early hours of Thursday, April 24.
They were reportedly en route to Limpopo from the Free State when they vanished, prompting a major search operation involving divers, drone teams, and rescue units.
It would take over five days before the wreckage and the bodies were discovered in the Hennops River, not far from the N1 highway.
Speaking at the scene, National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola stated, “From the look of eyes… the car looks like it capsized first before it impacted on the wall… and then it eventually went into the water.”
The police have emphasised that “nothing sinister” has been detected so far.
Still, for many South Africans, the explanation may feel incomplete.
How three trained officers could vanish for nearly a week on one of the country’s busiest highways without immediate trace is raising eyebrows.
It’s also unclear how the body of an admin clerk attached to the Lyttelton police station was found during the same search.
The EFF has asked the police commissioner to provide answers — not only to the families but to the public — about what happened, why and who must be held accountable.
Watch: Bodies of Missing Police Officers Recovered in Hennops River, Centurion
“The country deserves to know whether these are isolated incidents or something far more criminal and sinister,” said EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo.
“This development is deeply concerning. The presence of multiple bodies in one river system, within a short time frame and geographic radius, suggests a broader and possibly co-ordinated pattern of violence that demands urgent and thorough investigation.
While speculation is dangerous, brushing off public concern is just as risky.
As the investigation continues, it’s only fair to expect transparency and urgency. The families of the deceased — and a watching public — deserve nothing less.
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