BLOEMFONTEIN – National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has announced a reward of R350,000 for information leading to the safe return of three police officers who have been missing since Thursday. The desperate plea for public assistance comes as police admit they have no solid leads in the perplexing disappearance.
Masemola, addressing journalists in Bloemfontein on Sunday, was flanked by Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, and other senior officials. The press briefing followed a meeting between police top brass and the distraught families of the missing officers: 20-year-old Constable Boipelo Senoge, 24-year-old Constable Cebekhulu Linda, and 30-year-old Constable Keamogetswe Buys.
"We are hopeful and we will find whoever is behind this. We will definitely make sure that we do not rest," Masemola vowed. "On that score, we have put out a reward of R350,000 for any information on the whereabouts of our members, and the whereabouts of those criminals that are behind the disappearance of our own."
The last known location of the three constables was an Engen fuel station on the N1 highway, near the Grasmere Toll Plaza outside Johannesburg, on Thursday morning. The trio were travelling in a Volkswagen Polo hatchback with registration number JCL 401 FS, en route from Bloemfontein to Limpopo, where they were scheduled for deployment.
Adding to the mystery, the vehicle's tracking device and the officers' cellphones were switched off at the interchange of the N1, N3 and M1 shortly after they left the fuel station. This has led investigators to believe foul play may be involved.
"We believe someone somewhere would know what happened," Masemola stated. "We are following all the leads, including the cars around them, as seen on social media, parked next to them at the filling station. We have processed that information. However, we are not looking narrowly only at that information; our investigation is broad."
Public Urged to Come Forward
Masemola made a direct appeal to the public, urging anyone with "solid and concrete information" to contact the investigating officer, Captain Chaacha Manga, on 082 527 6099.
"Ladies and gentlemen, someone somewhere saw something especially from the time they left the Engen garage near the Grasmere Toll Plaza towards Johannesburg four days ago," he emphasised.
He assured potential informants that their identities would remain anonymous and all information would be treated with the utmost confidentiality. "You are reminded that anyone who shares information will remain anonymous and all information will be treated with confidentiality," said Masemola.
Masemola highlighted the crucial role communities play in solving crimes, noting that the SAPS has successfully solved numerous cases and apprehended kidnappers, murderers, and rapists with the assistance of the public.
Family Plea for Ubuntu
The emotional toll on the families of the missing officers is immense. Sipho Linda, uncle of Constable Cebekhulu Linda, made a heartfelt plea for assistance from the public.
"Somebody must have seen something. Consider these as your kids as well," Linda urged. "They were doing a job to protect the community; they were there to serve you. Anyone who notices something, please come forward not just because of the reward but because of ubuntu, as this can happen to any one of your kids."
All Resources Deployed
In an interview with the SABC prior to the press briefing, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that all available resources have been mobilised for the investigation. This includes a high-level team of expert detectives, the cybercrime unit, the Hawks, and Crime Intelligence officers.
"We have full confidence in the team that has been set up," Mathe stated. "It undermines the authority of the state when police officers are kidnapped; we are sending a stern warning: hand yourself over; otherwise, we will find you."
As the search intensifies, the SAPS is leaving no stone unturned in their efforts to locate the missing officers and bring those responsible for their disappearance to justice. The R350,000 reward underscores the seriousness with which the police are treating this case and their determination to bring closure to the families of Constable Senoge, Constable Linda, and Constable Buys.
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