South African police are investigating the deaths of three officers whose bodies were found in a river after they had been missing for six days. The officers—Boipelo Senoge, 20, Cebekhulu Linda, 24, and Keamogetswe Buys, 30—disappeared last Wednesday after leaving a petrol station near Johannesburg.
The bodies were discovered by divers in Hennops River, located around 70 kilometers (43 miles) from Johannesburg, along with two other unidentified bodies. Initially, police believed the officers may have been victims of hijacking and kidnapping, but they have not yet confirmed whether the deaths were accidental.
The officers were traveling in a white VW Polo when they went missing. Their vehicle’s tracking device and mobile phones had been switched off, making their whereabouts unclear. A nationwide search led by police uncovered parts of the officers’ car and eventually a Renault Kangoo van near the river.
The bodies of the three officers were recovered between Monday and Tuesday, along with the remains of a police admin clerk who had been driving the van. The fifth body, found nearby, was severely decomposed and remains unidentified.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has stressed that it is still too early to speculate on the cause of death. He also confirmed that investigations would continue as they search for the missing VW Polo. The discovery has shocked the South African public, with many expressing grief and support for the families of the officers.
