General Masemola demands to know what really happened as Cebekhulu Linda's father doubts police's official version

Yesterday, a somber memorial service was held in Bobbiespark, Bloemfontein, to honor three Free State police constables whose lives were tragically cut short. The hall was filled with police officers, correctional service personnel, and government officials, all gathered to pay their respects to Constables Cebekhulu Linda, Keamogetswe Buys, and Boipelo Senoge. The three young officers went missing on April 23rd, and their bodies were discovered six days later in the Hennops River in Centurion, Gauteng.

During the memorial, Constable Cebekhulu Linda's father, Mr Sipho Linda, spoke to SABC news where he voiced the family's lingering questions and grief. He expressed the surreal feeling of preparing to bury his child, hoping it was all just a bad dream. He acknowledged the conflicting reports surrounding the incident, noting the initial suggestions of hijacking or kidnapping before it was declared an accident.

While the family believes it was an accident, they are seeking clarity on what led to it. Mr. Linda questioned why his son, known for being a careful driver, was driving on the far-left side of the road. He also wondered about reports of the car capsizing before entering the river and whether anyone witnessed the event. He said that the family will allow themselves time to grieve and lay their loved one to rest, and then they will await a full report from the police.

The constables were remembered as dedicated members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), committed to fighting crime. Brigadier SP Kubheka, their commander from the intelligence department, highlighted their contributions. He noted Constable Buys' expertise in cybercrime, despite her IT qualifications, and remembered Constable Linda's passion for cars, a trait he was known for.

Free State Premier Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae expressed her condolences to the families, acknowledging the immense pain they are experiencing. She urged social media users to be respectful and avoid spreading misinformation that could hurt the families and undermine the investigation. She also stated that the Free State government worked with the families of the three constables.

According to Bona Magazine, Mr Paul Senoge, the father of Constable Boipelo Senoge, also demanded justice and accountability for those responsible if the deaths were not accidental. Last week, he described his daughter as a loving and responsible person who always kept her family informed.

However, the official version of events has been met with skepticism, not only from the families but also from the public and even within the police force. Some find it hard to believe that the vehicle could have ended up in the river without leaving any visible impact on the barrier or bridge. Questions have also been raised about the lack of witnesses, despite the presence of a 24-hour fuel station and frequent patrols in the area. These inconsistencies have fueled speculation that something more sinister may have occurred, with some suggesting the car was deliberately dumped in the river to mislead investigators.

In response to the concerns and unanswered questions, National Police Commissioner General Fanie Masemola has demanded a thorough investigation to unearth what led to the police officers death. He assured the public that a thorough investigation is already underway. He applauded the investigators for their tireless efforts in locating the officers' bodies. He revealed that a scene reconstruction is being conducted to determine the events that led to the tragedy. The SAPS vehicle accident unit and forensic experts are examining the vehicle to provide a detailed account of what happened. Last week, the police chief had said that they cannot rule out foul play at this moment, hence the need to conduct a thorough investigation.

Despite the ongoing police investigation, the Free State government has condemned the spread of online rumors, warning that such baseless claims could harm the grieving families and undermine the search for truth. Premier Maqueen Lethsoha-Mathae emphasized the importance of respecting the families' pain and allowing the investigation to proceed without interference. However, even the family members of the late police officers have revealed that they are not satisfied with what they have been told yet regarding to the deaths of their loved ones.

The three constables, Cebekhulu Linda, Keamogetswe Buys, and Boipelo Senoge, were deployed to Limpopo as part of Operation Vala Umgodi, an initiative aimed at combating illegal mining activities. Constable Linda was based in the Security Intelligence Unit, while Constable Buys worked in the Cyber Crime Unit. Constable Senoge worked at the Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein. She was Constable Linda's girlfriend and the two were planning to get married soon.

The constables will be laid to rest in separate official police funerals between Thursday, May 8th, and Saturday, May 10th. Constable Senoge's funeral will be held on Thursday at St Peters Anglican Church in Rocklands, Mangaung, followed by burial at South Park Cemetery. Constable Linda's funeral will be held on Friday at St Rose Catholic Church in Goronyane street in Bochabela before his burial at Magengenene cemetery in Mangaung. Constable Buys will be laid to rest on Saturday. Her funeral will be held at Grassland hall and she will be buried at Thaba Nchu cemetery.

Follow Us on Twitter