Centurion, South Africa – April 30, 2025
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that parts believed to be from the missing VW Polo linked to the deaths of three police officers have been recovered during an ongoing search and rescue operation near the Hennops River in Centurion.
In a media statement issued on Wednesday evening, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said search teams had located a number of vehicle components, including a front and rear bumper, which may belong to the VW Polo that Constables Keamogetswe Buys, Boipelo Senoge, and Cebekhulu Linda were travelling in.
“A police reflector jacket belonging to one of the deceased officers has also been found,” Mathe said, adding that experts are currently working to confirm whether the vehicle parts are from the missing car.
The search intensified after a metal object—believed to be the submerged vehicle—was detected by divers approximately 4km from the N1 highway. According to SAPS, the object remains unconfirmed due to heavy debris obscuring visibility. However, hopes are high that it may finally bring clarity to unanswered questions surrounding the case.
Search efforts are being led by SAPS divers, City of Tshwane divers and EMS, the SAPS Special Task Force (STF), and Search and Rescue South Africa. Additional support has come from SAPS Crime Intelligence, the Cyber Crime Unit, detectives, the Lyttleton Community Police Forum (CPF), Traffic officials, Fidelity SecureFire, and Vision Tactical private security.
All three families have been informed of the latest developments, Mathe added, and SAPS has reiterated its commitment to uncovering the full truth behind the incident.
This update follows yesterday’s confirmation by SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola that all three missing individuals had been found deceased. The group had disappeared six days prior, sparking a massive multi-provincial investigation.
The cause of the incident remains under investigation. Police have urged the public to avoid speculation as forensic and technical teams continue to assess the evidence.
Authorities say the search will continue until the missing VW Polo is positively identified and recovered.
