KEY POINTS
-
Police opened a case after a false claim on the missing VW Polo.
-
SAPS says the 13.5 percent water tariff hike case misled investigators.
-
Authorities warn against using social media irresponsibly during probes.
A case of undermining the ends of justice has been initiated by police against a guy who made a fraudulent social media allegation.
Police investigate false claim on the missing VW Polo
The man claimed to have seen the missing white VW Polo connected to three dead officers, according to the South African Police Service.
During a media briefing at the Hennops River in Centurion on Thursday, SAPS spokesperson Brig. Athlenda Mathe affirmed the case.
Mathe told reporters, “We took up a case where someone in Cape Town said the car was in this river.”
The white VW Polo that was buried in the Hennops River next to the N1 highway was found by police divers shortly after she made her testimony.
Authorities discovered a set of auto keys, a white handbag, an identity document, and a vehicle service book inside the car.
“He misled the investigation, which is why we are looking for him,” Mathe stated. “We encourage social media use that is appropriate.”
She underlined how crucial it is to report confirmed facts and refrain from disseminating false information when conducting delicate public safety inquiries.
Divers recover car after false claim on the missing VW Polo
The retrieval of the vehicle came after the bodies of three officers were found in the same river earlier this week.
On their way from Bloemfontein to Limpopo, Constables Cebekhulu Linda, 24, Boipelo Senoge, 24, and Keamogetswe Buys, 30, were reported missing.
The car may have capsized before plunging into the river, according to National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola, who spoke at the scene.
“We’ll look into the car to find out exactly what happened,” Masemola stated. “Physical evidence indicates that it flipped prior to impact.”
Based on preliminary visual examination, he added, the vehicle most likely crashed into a roadside barrier after capsizing and then landed in the riverbed.
According to Iol, Masemola said that although the occurrence seemed to be unintentional, a full forensic examination is being conducted to determine the cause.
He said that no foul play is now suspected and that medical specialists are still working on the cops’ autopsies.
“When the autopsies are finished, the doctors will confirm their findings, but there are injuries,” Masemola stated.
