Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, December 29, 2025 – Rescue teams have recovered human remains believed to belong to the missing South African National Defence Force (SANDF) soldier who was swept away by floodwaters in the Komati River (also known as the Nkomati River) on Christmas Day.
The soldiers were part of Operation Corona, a border safeguarding mission, and were attempting to cross a low-lying bridge near the Lebombo Border Post when their military vehicle was overcome by strong currents due to heavy flooding.
One soldier’s body was recovered on December 26, while the search continued for the second member. The remains discovered today were found approximately two kilometres downstream from the incident site, near the South Africa-Mozambique border. Reports indicate a local fisherman alerted authorities to the discovery.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli emphasised that identification is pending: “At this moment we cannot confirm that these are the remains of the missing soldier. We need to conduct DNA tests to ensure the identity of the remains that we found here.”
The multi-agency search operation, involving SANDF, police divers, helicopters, and community assistance, has been challenged by strong currents and wildlife risks in the area. Following the recovery, the active search has been temporarily suspended pending forensic confirmation.
