Centurion – What began as a desperate search for three missing police constables has turned into a disturbing tragedy. Police have now recovered a fifth body from the Hennops River in Centurion but the search for their vehicle, and confirmation of identities continues.
The trio – 20-year-old Boipelo Senoge, 24-year-old Cebekhulu Linda, and 30-year-old Keamogetswe Buys – went missing while off duty last week, travelling in a white VW Polo sedan (registration JCL 401 FS) from Bloemfontein to Limpopo. Their last known sighting was at the Engen garage near the Grasmere toll plaza on the N1.
According to investigators, the three were travelling through severe weather conditions on the night of their disappearance. Police are not ruling out the possibility that the constables may have been swept away by rising floodwaters or strong currents in the Hennops River area, known to surge dangerously during heavy rains due to its Ill-managed storm water system.
On Tuesday afternoon, police confirmed that a fifth body had been retrieved from the river.
“We found five bodies (3 women and 2 men) that we can confirm, but as long as we haven’t found the car, a Polo, we are still investigating,” said Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya.
Timeline of Events in the Disappearance of Three Police Constables
Earlier on Tuesday, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said:
“The SAPS confirms that its investigation has brought it to the Hennops River in Centurion along the N1. We have three bodies so far, whose identities are yet to be confirmed. We are searching for another body and for any other evidence that will assist us in concluding the case of the missing police officers.”
Search and rescue efforts continued throughout the day, with teams and sniffer dogs scouring the area. The five bodies—three women and two men—were found in different locations around the river. All remain at the scene, and the area is still considered an active crime scene.
While Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said there’s a high possibility the bodies may be those of the missing constables, authorities have urged caution until positive identification is made.
Meanwhile, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who is said to be meeting with the families of the missing officers this afternoon, is expected to address the nation later today.
“We are hopeful and we will find whoever is behind this. We will definitely make sure that we do not rest,” said Masemola on Sunday during a briefing in Bloemfontein.
“On that score, we have put out a reward of R350,000 for any information on the whereabouts of our members, and the whereabouts of those criminals that are behind the disappearance of our own.”
The white VW Polo the officers were travelling in has not yet been found. Investigators are treating it as a key piece of evidence, which may help determine whether foul play, natural forces, or both are involved.
After the officers left the Grasmere fuel station, their vehicle tracking device and mobile phones were deactivated, making it difficult to trace their route.
As the families wait anxiously and the nation watches on, this tragedy remains one of the most emotionally charged stories in recent SAPS history—one that continues to unfold as part of Stories Shaping South Africa Today.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned to NOWinSA for verified updates, exclusive interviews, and in-depth reporting on Stories Shaping South Africa Today.
