In a rare move, the South African Police service (SAPS) have been commended for their swift and thorough response to the tragic discovery of the three young Constables Cebekhulu Linda, 24, Boipelo Senoge, 24, and Keamogetswe Buys, 30 and the vehicle at the Hennops River, in Centurion.
This after they were reported missing since last week on their way from Bloemfontein to Limpopo on deployment.
Speaking to Motlhaping Modise on YOU FM Newshour, the Tshwane University of Technology Safety and Security Department Professor Jacob Mofokeng said their death is a serious blow to the efforts to bolster the crime intelligence division of the police in the country.
“The loss of the trio is a setback, coming up the ranks to be able to deal with crime in South Africa especially where they were deployed within the crime intelligence.
We’ve been talking about the need for crime intelligence to come of age to be able to bring confidence and we see that these were the new recruits from the college.
It’s indeed a loss to their families, the SAPS and the public at large,” said Mofokeng.
In addition, Mofokeng said that the recovery of their VW Polo from the Hennops River will help beef up the ongoing investigations in the matter.
“It is essential hence remember before it was discovered the National Police Commissioner (General Fannie Masemola) thought that it might be a case of hijacking considering the high incidents of contact crime and hijacking in South Africa.
But prior to the discovery then they realised when they discovered certain debris because we were in the dark in terms of where the vehicle was.
The discovery will bring closure in terms of was there any foul play that caused the death of these promising police officers, or could it be just an accident or maybe due to fatigue we don’t know.
The use of the forensic officers will probably shed light into what happened,” explained Mofokeng
The families of the three police constables are yet to agree on a date and a venue where the deceased will be laid to rest. buried.
Meanwhile, Masemola has called on members of the media and the public at large to allow the police space and time to investigate the matter.
He also urged them to refrain from speculating and painting scenarios of what could have happened without tangible facts of the incident.
Masemola, who was accompanied by the Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, was addressing the media after arriving at the scene shortly after the discovery of the vehicle.The commissioner commended the collaboration between various units of the police and private sector in resolving the matter urgently.
