KEY POINTS
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Personal items recovered from the constables’ car, including IDs and a handbag, are pivotal to determining whether the incident was accidental or intentional.
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The Hennops River’s history of drownings has ignited demands for infrastructure upgrades, with activists blaming neglected safety measures for recurring tragedies.
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The deaths have exposed gaps in police welfare protocols, including the lack of vehicle tracking systems for officers on long-distance duties.
Personal effects, including a white handbag, identity documents, and a vehicle service book, were recovered from the submerged Volkswagen Polo belonging to three missing Free State constables, as authorities intensified efforts to unravel the mystery of their disappearance.
The car, retrieved from the Hennops River in Centurion on Thursday, held critical clues for investigators probing the deaths of Linda Cebekhulu, Boipelo Senoge, and Keamogetswe Buys, whose bodies were found earlier this week.
“These items will help us reconstruct their final moments and verify whether foul play or an accident occurred,” said a forensic investigator at the scene. The discovery came amid heightened public scrutiny, with National Police Commissioner Gen. Fannie Masemola and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi overseeing the operation.
The vehicle, hauled out using a heavy-duty tow truck, bore damage consistent with a high-impact collision, but investigators are yet to confirm if it veered off the road or was deliberately driven into the river.
Community demands river safety overhaul
The tragedy has spotlighted the Hennops River’s deadly reputation, with five bodies recovered in the area over the past week alone. Local activists argue that poor infrastructure, including the absence of guardrails on the R511 bridge, exacerbates risks. “This river claims lives annually, yet authorities ignore calls for safety upgrades,” fumed Thandiwe Mokoena, founder of the Hennops River Conservation Group.
According to Sowetanlive, a 2024 report by the Tshwane Metro cited 14 drownings in the river since 2020, attributing many to flash floods and eroded riverbanks.
Families of the constables expressed mixed emotions. Cebekhulu’s sister, Nomvula, tearfully recounted, “Linda’s ID in that bag—it’s all we have left. We need answers, not just condolences.” Meanwhile, Senoge’s mother criticized police protocols: “Why were junior officers assigned a 500km night drive without GPS tracking?” The South African Policing Union (SAPU) echoed concerns, revealing that 60% of police vehicles lack emergency tracking systems, leaving officers vulnerable during long-distance assignments.
Forensic teams are analyzing waterlogged electronic devices and dashcam footage (if retrievable) to determine the car’s speed and trajectory.
Preliminary findings suggest the vehicle may have capsized before striking a concrete retaining wall, but toxicology reports will assess if driver fatigue or impairment played a role.
