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Three missing SAPS officers were confirmed dead among five bodies recovered from Gauteng’s Hennops River after a six-day search involving drones, divers, and interprovincial collaboration.
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Investigators traced vehicle debris to the scene but have yet to locate the officers’ VW Polo, with the cause of the incident still undetermined pending further evidence.
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The deaths highlight ongoing risks faced by South African law enforcement, as SAPS reaffirms its commitment to solving the case while grieving families receive “painful closure.”
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed late Tuesday that three missing South African Police Service, SAPS, officers were among five bodies pulled from the Hennops River in Centurion, ending a six-day search that gripped the nation.
The officers—Constables Keamogetswe Buys, Boipelo Senoge, and Cebekhulu Linda—were last seen on April 24 at a petrol station near the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1 highway. Their disappearance sparked a multi-province manhunt involving specialized units and community appeals.
Masemola, addressing reporters at the riverbank under floodlights, described the outcome as “devastating.” “It has been a difficult six days for members of the South African Police Service and affected families, as we searched everywhere for our three missing police officers,” he said.
According to IOL, the officers’ Volkswagen Polo, cellphones, and tracking device were switched off shortly after their last sighting, deepening suspicions of foul play.
Vehicle parts and collaborative efforts lead to recovery
The breakthrough came Monday when debris from a VW Polo was discovered near the N1 highway, prompting divers and air support to scour the Hennops River. A Renault Kangoo panel van was also found abandoned at the riverbank, its driver identified as an administrative clerk from Lyttelton Police Station. SAPS drone units, cybercrime experts, and the Hawks collaborated with private aviation teams to locate the first two bodies: the clerk and Constable Senoge.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am unfortunately not the bearer of good news this evening,” Masemola stated. “We had hoped to find our three police officers safe, unharmed, and alive, but this is not the case.” By Tuesday afternoon, all five victims—including two additional unidentified individuals—had been retrieved. Families identified the officers at the Tshwane mortuary, though forensic tests are pending for the decomposed remains.
Authorities have not ruled out accidental or criminal causes. The officers’ vehicle remains missing, and Masemola urged caution against speculation: “We don’t want to speculate at this stage about what led to the discovery of the bodies in the river—whether it was an accident or not. The investigation will reveal those details once we find the vehicle.”
The tragedy has reignited concerns over officer safety amid rising attacks on law enforcement. In 2024, SAPS reported over 50 officers killed on duty, prompting calls for improved protective measures. Meanwhile, a R350,000 reward offered Sunday for information remains active, though it is unclear if tipsters contributed to the recovery.
