Family of One of the 3 SAPS Constables Who Died Still Wants Answers

• The family of Constable Cebekhulu Linda, one of the three South African Police Service constables, wants answers about what happened to Cebekhulu
• Linda and his two colleagues, Boipelo Senoge and Keamogetswe Buys, died while on their way from Bloemfontein to Limpopo
• Linda's family wants to know how the alleged accident transpired when the police initially reported that they are investigating a case of hijacking and kidnapping

With nine years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, a current affairs writer for Briefly News, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

FREE STATE — The family of Constable Cebekhulu Linda, one of the South African Police Service officers who disappeared on 23 April 2025 while on their way from Bloemfontein to Limpopo, still has unanswered questions about how Cebekhulu died.

Cebekhulu Linda's family has questions

According to SABC News, Sipho Linda, the family's spokesperson, said the family accepted that their son had died in an accident. However, questions still lingered about the events that led to the accident.

Linda said the case was initially reported as a hijacking and kidnapping case. However, the police informed that Linda died in an accident. He said the family wanted to know how the accident occurred.

" Knowing my son, he was very careful. I mean, he wouldn't drive from Bloemfontein if he were negligent. And why was he driving on the far left?"

The police held a joint memorial service for the three constables on 6 May in Bloemfontein, Free State. The officers were reported missing after they were last seen at the Kranskop Toll Plaza on the N1 on 23 April. Their bodies were discovered six days later in the Hennops River in Tshwane.

What you need to know about the death of the constables

• Police found the three bodies belonging to the constables in the Hennops River on 29 April, six days after they were last seen
• The police also discovered a metal piece believed to belong to the white VW Polo they travelled in
• The body count rose from three to five after the police located two unidentified bodies in the Hennops River
• The cops found the VW Polo after divers conducted an intense search of the Hennops River, where the bodies were found
• The father of one of the constables said he was happy that they found the car, and would wait after investigations concluded before asking questions

What did South Africans say?

South Africans commenting on SABC News' Facebook post also had questions and shared their views.

Thapedi Freddy Motshabi said:

"Sorry for their loss, but the family must tell us the reason why their loved ones left their homes so late. Did they sleep enough, or were they busy during the day?"

Muofhe Tshikovhele said:

"The fact that they know that it's an accident would be answer enough. People get involved in accidents every day."

Joe Joe Joe said:

"They must hire a private investigator to get answers."

Tilah Galosi Manabele said:

"Those that would answer better are no more. They are just in denial."

Solly Palare said:

"I hope they find answers."

Deputy National Commissioner says trio were killed in an accident

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the deputy national commissioner of investigations, General Shadrack Sibiya, said that the three constables died in an accident. He dismissed any other plausible causes as a conspiracy theory.

Sibiya said the officers were driving fast and in wet conditions. He stressed that there was no foul play involved in their deaths.

Source: Briefly News