SA Police Officers Found Dead After Disappearance

South African police officers found dead in Hennops River after disappearing; investigation ongoing to determine cause of deaths; vehicle still missing.

• The Disappearance: Three South African police officers, Constables Boipelo Senoge (20), Cebekhulu Linda (24), and Keamogetswe Buys (30), went missing after leaving a petrol station near Johannesburg last Wednesday.
• The Discovery: After six days, their bodies were found in the Hennops River, about 70km (43 miles) away. Divers also found the remains of two other unnamed persons, including a police admin clerk who was driving a Renault Kangoo van.
• The Investigation: Initially treated as a possible hijacking and kidnapping, police are now refraining from speculation, investigating whether the deaths were accidental.
• The Search: A search team combed Gauteng, Free State, and Limpopo provinces, finding parts of a vehicle believed to be a VW Polo (the officers' vehicle) and the Renault Kangoo van near the river.
• The Missing Vehicle: The VW Polo that the officers were traveling in is still missing.
• Public Reaction: The search garnered significant public attention, with prayers circulating on social media. Devastated loved ones gathered at the riverbank after the bodies were found.
• Commissioner's Statement: Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola initially warned those responsible for the "kidnapping" but has since shifted to a more cautious approach, emphasizing the need to find the vehicle and determine the cause of the deaths.