KEY POINTS
- Bodies of Constables Keamogetswe Buys (30), Boipelo Senoge (20), and Cebekhulu Linda (24) recovered from Hennops River.
- The signing of a memorial service will take place on Tuesday May 6.
- Professor Musa Xulu believes that ignoring spiritual elements can lead to additional road accidents according to his expertise in cultural matters.
The relatives of three Free State law enforcement officers performed customary ceremonies at the Hennops River banks before retrieving their deceased relatives’ bodies back to their homes after discovering their remains in the river.
The three late police officers Keamogetswe Buys (30) and Boipelo Senoge (20) and Cebekhulu Linda (24) were last observed at a petrol station by Grasmere Toll Plaza during the initial hours of April 24. A white Volkswagen Polo carried them on their journey to Limpopo until their disappearance occurred.
General Fannie Masemola of the National Police stated that evidence indicates the vehicle flipped when it struck the N1 road barrier before it submerged underwater. The multi-day Search conducted by SAPS rescue teams with divers and drones recovered both the vehicle along with its occupants.
Musa predicts more dangers at the Hennops river tragedy
Families who had lost loved ones in the accident planned their upcoming May 6 memorial service while various cultural discussions regarding the tragedy began to surface. Cultural expert Professor Musa Xulu predicted that “uncollected spirits” of accident victims could trigger additional accidents when spiritual rites remain unaccomplished.
Xulu stated that according to belief the soul remains close to the location where the accident took place. Following abandonment by family members the spirit grows displeased and may trigger fresh accidents that sometimes results in accidents targeting drivers.
The professor presented evidence of such memorial practices which exist across South Africa as well as in other parts of the world. According to Xulu the practice is not based on scientific knowledge but forms part of religious belief episodes although they lead to tragic outcomes.
Xulu states he provided previous guidance to transport officials about the spiritual dimension of crash sites by stressing importance of cultural rituals following Hennops river tragedy. The investigation for the precise crash cause continues while mourning relatives seek traditional rituals in preparing burial ceremonies for themselves.
