By Tumelo Matlala

The search for three missing police constables has concluded in tragedy as five bodies were found in the Hennops River in Centurion, Tshwane on Monday. The families and investigating unit confirmed that among the retrieved bodies were constables, Linda Cebekhulu, Boipelo Senoge, and Keamogetswe Buys, who went missing last week while traveling from the Free State to Limpopo.

The police investigation led to the discovery of parts of one of the constable’s white Polo Volkswagen (VW) vehicle on a bridge over the Hennops River, suggesting a possible accident. This was after it was seen on a video near Brakfontein interchange in Centurion.

However, the officers’ deaths are still being investigated. The police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, stated that the investigation is ongoing, and the exact sequence of events is yet to be determined. “We had hoped to find our three police officers safe and unharmed. Unfortunately, this is not the case. It is with deep sorrow that I confirm that our three members have been found together with two other bodies,” said Masemola.

The father of deceased Constable Boipelo Senoge, Paul Senoge said: “The last time I spoke to Boipelo was on Wednesday night when they were leaving for Polokwane, I put her bags in the car for her and said goodbye. Now here I am today, I just had to identify my child’s body.”

In addition to the three Constables, a fourth body was identified as an administration clerk from Lyttelton Police Station, while the fifth body remains unidentified. Masemola said the clerk’s wife told police that he had visited friends in the area on Saturday afternoon but did not return home.

“The body was found far down the river. We don’t think his vehicle entered the river here. It may have entered at another point because the place where he had gone to visit his friends is more towards Waterkloof Air Force Base,” said Masemola.