CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA — The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the nation are in mourning following the devastating discovery of three missing police officers found dead in the Hennops River in Centurion, bringing a tragic end to a week-long search that gripped the country.
Constables Keamogetswe Buys (30), Cebekhulu Linda (24), and Boipelo Senoge (20) were last seen alive on the morning of Thursday, April 25, at a petrol station near the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1 in Gauteng. Their disappearance triggered a full-scale investigation involving multiple police units, as concern deepened when all communication and tracking from their VW Polo hatchback (registration JCL 401 FS) abruptly ceased.
On Tuesday, April 30, national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed the worst fears during a somber media briefing at the scene: the bodies of all three constables had been recovered from the Hennops River, along with two additional bodies — one of whom has been identified as an administrative clerk from Lyttelton Police Station, and the other remains unidentified.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am unfortunately not the bearer of good news this evening,” Masemola began. “We had hoped to find our officers safe and alive, but this is not the case.”
The Commissioner paid tribute to the officers, describing their deaths as a “crushing blow” to SAPS and their loved ones. “It has been a difficult six days for the SAPS and affected families, as we searched everywhere for our three missing officers,” he said.
Following the officers’ disappearance, a coordinated search was launched across Gauteng, the Free State, and Limpopo. A multi-agency task force involving SAPS Crime Intelligence, Cybercrime, the Hawks, SAPS drone unit, Gauteng Traffic Airwing, and Bidvest Protea Coin Airwing worked around the clock to uncover their fate.
A significant breakthrough came on Monday, April 29, when aerial and ground teams located vehicle debris near the Hennops River, strongly believed to be from the missing officers’ VW Polo. Nearby, they also discovered an abandoned Renault Kangoo panel van, which was later linked to the SAPS administrative clerk, whose body was recovered that same day.
Divers from SAPS and the City of Tshwane Emergency Services retrieved two bodies on Monday evening before nightfall halted operations. Among them was Constable Boipelo Senoge, just 20 years old, beginning her policing career. The next morning, divers located and recovered Constable Cebekhulu Linda, followed by another decomposed body, whose identity has yet to be confirmed. By the afternoon, the final identified officer, Constable Keamogetswe Buys, was also recovered.
The families of the fallen officers were brought to the Tshwane mortuary, where they painfully confirmed the identities of their loved ones.
Ongoing Investigation and National Mourning
Commissioner Masemola confirmed that while the officers’ bodies have been found, the search for their missing VW Polo vehicle continues, and the investigation is far from over.
“We are still determining the full circumstances around this tragedy, including the roles of all recovered individuals, and how the vehicle ended up at the bottom of the river,” he stated.
The presence of the additional two deceased individuals, including the SAPS clerk, raises new questions about potential foul play and whether the incident was linked to criminal activity. Authorities have not ruled out any possibilities and emphasized the need for a thorough, evidence-based approach.
A Nation Grieves Its Protectors
As the news spread, tributes poured in from across South Africa. SAPS colleagues, grieving families, and heartbroken citizens have expressed their shock and sadness over the tragic loss of three young officers whose lives were cut short in the line of duty.
Social media has since become a virtual memorial for Buys, Linda, and Senoge, with posts from friends, family, and former classmates remembering them as dedicated, kind-hearted, and full of promise.
In a joint statement, the Ministry of Police and SAPS top leadership extended their deepest condolences to the families. Flags are expected to be flown at half-mast at SAPS stations across Gauteng in the coming days.
As the investigation continues, the South African public now turns its attention to seeking answers and demanding justice for these fallen officers — whose service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
