KEY POINTS
- The bodies of missing Soweto couple Mxolisi Sive and Nomhlanganiso Mpungose were found in a submerged car near the Lakeview Rea Vaya bus station, ending a weeks-long search.
- Police have opened an inquest docket and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, appealing to the public for information.
- The tragedy has highlighted the growing issue of missing persons cases in Gauteng, with over 2,000 cases reported in 2024 alone.
The search for a missing couple in Soweto came to a heartbreaking conclusion when their bodies were recovered from a submerged Hyundai i10 in a river along Chris Hani Road, next to the Lakeview Rea Vaya bus station in Mofolo, South.
The couple, Mxolisi Sive and Nomhlanganiso Mpungose, who were last seen together on February 2, had been reported missing weeks ago, leaving their families and community in anguish.
According to reports, the disappearance of the couple had sparked widespread concern, with friends and relatives pleading for information on their whereabouts. The breakthrough came when a passerby noticed the vehicle partially submerged in the river and alerted the authorities.
“The police were notified by a passerby who spotted the car in the river. The deceased were identified by their families,” said Gauteng police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo. The discovery has left the community in shock, with many questions still unanswered about the circumstances leading to the tragic incident.
Police Launch Inquest as Community Mourns the Loss
The police have opened an inquest docket to investigate the incident further. “The investigation is ongoing… We appeal to anyone with information to come forward,” Masondo added. Authorities are urging members of the public to assist by providing any information that could shed light on the events leading up to the couple’s deaths.
This tragic incident has highlighted the growing concern over missing persons cases in South Africa, particularly in Gauteng, where such cases have seen a worrying increase in recent years. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), over 2,000 missing persons cases were reported in Gauteng alone in 2024, with many cases remaining unresolved.
The community of Meadowlands has been left reeling from the loss, with many expressing their grief and frustration over the lack of answers. “We are devastated. They were such a loving couple, and we just want to know what happened to them,” said a close family friend who wished to remain anonymous.
Members of the public who have information that can assist the police are urged to contact their nearest police station or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
