‘We never anticipated this tragic end’: Police Commissioner Masemola on deaths of three cops

NATIONAL Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola described the deaths of three Free State police constables as a heartbreaking conclusion to what started as a suspected hijacking and kidnapping case, confirming that the Accident Unit is investigating the VW Polo involved.

- SIMON MAJADIBODU

“When we first picked up this case, we never anticipated this tragic end,” Masemola said during a memorial service in Bloemfontein yesterday.

“We initially thought it was a possible hijacking and kidnapping. We investigated, but through technology and meticulous intelligence and detective work, our investigation led us to the Hennops River in Centurion along the N1 – where we undertook a three-day search.”

The memorial service honoured Constables Cebekhulu Linda, 24, Boipelo Senoge, 24, and Keamogetswe Buys, 30, who tragically died in Tshwane. The three officers were last seen in the early hours of April 24 at a petrol station near the Grasmere Toll Plaza. They were travelling in a white Volkswagen Polo hatchback from the Free State to Limpopo.

Their bodies were recovered from the Hennops River in Centurion, Gauteng, after they were reported missing for more than five days.

On Monday, families of the officers gathered at the river to perform traditional rituals before taking the bodies home.