{"id":54064,"date":"2025-04-29T15:38:06","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T13:38:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/?p=54064"},"modified":"2025-04-29T18:58:43","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T16:58:43","slug":"five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/","title":{"rendered":"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In a new turn of events in the case of the missing police officers from Bloemfontein, police in Gauteng have found the bodies of the three Free State police officers in the Hennops River in Centurion next to the N1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, General Fannie Masemola, said in a news release this afternoon that the police had hoped to find the three police officers safe, unharmed and alive, but this is not the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brigadier Athlenda Mathe from the national SAPS communications office, confirmed this morning that the police were searching the Hennops River near Centurion after the last sighting of the three police officers that were traveling from Bloemfontein to Limpopo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"54066\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/20250429_135605\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2048,2048\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"20250429_135605\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605-1024x1024.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-54066\" srcset=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605-1320x1320.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/20250429_135605.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The missing police officers are from the top left, Keamogetswe Buys, Boipelo Senoge and Cebekhulu Linda. Photo: Facebook.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The missing members, Constables Cebekhulu Linda (24), Keamogetswe Buys (30), and Boipelo Senoge (20), were last seen alive on Wednesday, 23 April, at the Engen garage near the Grasmere Toll Plaza along the N1 in Gauteng.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;It is with deep sorrow that I confirm that our three members have been found, together with two other bodies, one being an admin clerk that is attached to our Lyttleton police station,&#8221; said Masemola today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trio, who was off duty at the time, were travelling in a white VW Polo sedan from Bloemfontein to their area of deployment in Limpopo when they disappeared. Their vehicle tracking system and cellphones have been unreachable since their last known location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The SAPS launched a full-scale high-level investigation and search operation trying to find the police officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We first found pieces of vehicle &#8211; parts believed to be of a VW Polo along the N1, that led us to the banks of the river where we found a Renault Kangoo panel van,&#8221; Masemola said.\u00a0 &#8220;Our SAPS and Tshwane divers immediately commenced with the search, where we discovered two bodies, one of the driver of the Renault panel van who it is just came to light that he is one of our employees attached to the Lyttleton Police Station and the second body was that of Constable Senoge. We had to abandon the search as it was already dark,&#8221; he said about the search on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This morning, the third body was discovered which is believed to be that of Constable Linda. We further found a fourth decomposed body, we are still trying to identify who this person is. Later this afternoon, we sadly found the fifth body of Constable Buys.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Masemola said the families were taken to the mortuary where they have identified the bodies of their children and loved ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said that the police would not like to speculate what led to the discovery of the bodies in this river, whether it was an accident or not. The police is still looking for the VW Polo in which the officers were travelling to Limpopo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This is not how we expected this case to unfold, we were hoping for a positive outcome. We are relieved that we could provide the painful closure to the families and the broader SAPS family&#8221;, Masemola said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He said the investigation into the incident is continuing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Five bodies found in Hennops River near Centurion in search for missing police officers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":54067,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"51","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"30","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"90","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozahermanustimes":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"3","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"1","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_privacy_policy_content":[],"_yoast_post_redirect_info":{"origin":"three-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers","target":"five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers","type":301,"format":"plain"},"_yoast_wpseo_video_meta":[],"activation_date":"","archive_insertion_is_repeating":"","archive_insertion_posts_count":"","article_feature_media":"","article_feature_type":"","article_main_image_caption":"","article_media_icon":"","article_template":"","author_byline":"","background_color":"","block_editor":"1","byline":"","cmplz_hide_cookiebanner":"","competition_end_date":"","contact_advertise_email":"","contact_advertise_phone":"","contact_editorial_email":"","contact_general_email":"","contact_general_phone":"","contact_office_hours":"","contact_physical_address":"","enabled":"","featured_image_custom_caption":"","featured_video_url":"","fields":"","font_body":"","font_header":"","frequency":"","headline":"","hide_border":"","icon":"","is_wp_suggestion":"","issuu_download_url":"","issuu_embed_url":"","language_version_url":"","large_border":"","name":"","nm_contact_name":"","nm_contact_number":"","nm_date_lost":"","no_overlay_background":"","node-url":"","obituary_born_date":"","obituary_died_date":"","obituary_memoriam_text":"","origin":"","overlay_color":"","overlay_opacity":"","overlay_size":"","placement":"","plural_label":"","post_author":"","post_id":"","post_language":"en","secret-key":"","sponsored_utm_campaign":"","sponsored_utm_content":"","sponsored_utm_medium":"","sponsored_utm_source":"","sponsored_utm_term":"","start_date":"","utm_suppression":"","video_embed_url":"","wp_pattern_sync_status":"","data_version":[],"enclosure":[],"pongrass_image":[],"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"scaip_prevent_shortcode_addition":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[91],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"publication":[],"class_list":["post-54064","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-top"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State | PE Express<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"New developments in the case of police officers missing from Bloemfontein. Their three bodies were found in Hennops River.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bloemnuus.co.za\/three-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"New developments in the case of police officers missing from Bloemfontein. Their three bodies were found in Hennops River.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"PE Express\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-29T13:38:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-04-29T16:58:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_1829.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1707\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lientjie Mentz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@express_newspapers\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@express_newspapers\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Lientjie Mentz\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/40b2fe5835e624ce3fa813de159cf7d8\"},\"headline\":\"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-29T13:38:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-29T16:58:43+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":541,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/IMG_1829.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Top\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2025\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/\",\"name\":\"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State | PE Express\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/IMG_1829.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-29T13:38:06+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-04-29T16:58:43+00:00\",\"description\":\"New developments in the case of police officers missing from Bloemfontein. Their three bodies were found in Hennops River.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/IMG_1829.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/IMG_1829.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1707,\"caption\":\"Photo for illustration.\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"News\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/news\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"description\":\"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"PE Express\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/pe-express-site-icon.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/pe-express-site-icon.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"PE Express\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/PEExpress1\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/express_newspapers\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/express_newspapers\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@expressonline3000\\\/videos\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/40b2fe5835e624ce3fa813de159cf7d8\",\"name\":\"Lientjie Mentz\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96\",\"caption\":\"Lientjie Mentz\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/novanews.co.za\\\/peexpress\\\/author\\\/lientjie-mentz\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State | PE Express","description":"New developments in the case of police officers missing from Bloemfontein. Their three bodies were found in Hennops River.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/bloemnuus.co.za\/three-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State","og_description":"New developments in the case of police officers missing from Bloemfontein. Their three bodies were found in Hennops River.","og_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/","og_site_name":"PE Express","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","article_published_time":"2025-04-29T13:38:06+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-04-29T16:58:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":2560,"height":1707,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_1829.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Lientjie Mentz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@express_newspapers","twitter_site":"@express_newspapers","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/"},"author":{"name":"Lientjie Mentz","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/40b2fe5835e624ce3fa813de159cf7d8"},"headline":"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State","datePublished":"2025-04-29T13:38:06+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-29T16:58:43+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/"},"wordCount":541,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_1829.jpg","keywords":["Top"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#respond"]}],"copyrightYear":"2025","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/","name":"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State | PE Express","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_1829.jpg","datePublished":"2025-04-29T13:38:06+00:00","dateModified":"2025-04-29T16:58:43+00:00","description":"New developments in the case of police officers missing from Bloemfontein. Their three bodies were found in Hennops River.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_1829.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_1829.jpg","width":2560,"height":1707,"caption":"Photo for illustration."},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/five-bodies-recovered-in-case-of-missing-police-officers\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"News","item":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Five bodies recovered in case of missing police officers from the Free State"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#website","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/","name":"PE Express","description":"To Inform, Engage and Empower Local Communities","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#organization","name":"PE Express","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pe-express-site-icon.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/pe-express-site-icon.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"PE Express"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/PEExpress1\/","https:\/\/x.com\/express_newspapers","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/express_newspapers\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@expressonline3000\/videos"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/#\/schema\/person\/40b2fe5835e624ce3fa813de159cf7d8","name":"Lientjie Mentz","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ad516503a11cd5ca435acc9bb6523536?s=96","caption":"Lientjie Mentz"},"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/author\/lientjie-mentz\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/IMG_1829.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":268570,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-corruption-crisis-deepens-as-officers-face-courts-for-murder-and-theft\/","url_meta":{"origin":54064,"position":0},"title":"Police corruption crisis deepens as officers face courts for murder and theft","author":"Novus Media","date":"12 August 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"JOHANNESBURG\u00a0- South Africa's police force is grappling with a mounting crisis of corruption and criminality within its own ranks, as recent court cases expose a disturbing pattern of misconduct that spans from street-level officers to the highest echelons of power. The crisis has reached such proportions that President Cyril Ramaphosa\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Photo for illustration purposes.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e3b9947ea0d14f9586dfb268a70b5048.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e3b9947ea0d14f9586dfb268a70b5048.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e3b9947ea0d14f9586dfb268a70b5048.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/e3b9947ea0d14f9586dfb268a70b5048.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":298877,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/triple-murder-under-investigation-in-kugompo-city\/","url_meta":{"origin":54064,"position":1},"title":"Triple murder under investigation in KuGompo City","author":"PE Express","date":"20 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Three men were shot and killed in what police believe was a targeted attack in Duncan Village, KuGompo City, on Tuesday night.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Police have launched a manhunt following a quadruple murder in Walmer in the early hours of Friday morning.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crime-scene-tape-and-hand.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crime-scene-tape-and-hand.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Crime-scene-tape-and-hand.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":299520,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/third-body-recovered-in-addo-river-tragedy\/","url_meta":{"origin":54064,"position":2},"title":"Third body recovered in Addo river tragedy","author":"PE Express","date":"8 June 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"A third body has been recovered after a Toyota Hilux carrying five Zimbabwean nationals was swept into the Coerney River in Addo.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The body of the missing driver, aged 35, was recovered on Sunday.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Addo-bodies-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Addo-bodies-1.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Addo-bodies-1.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Addo-bodies-1.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Addo-bodies-1.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Addo-bodies-1.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":297679,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-clamp-down-on-crime-in-kwazakele\/","url_meta":{"origin":54064,"position":3},"title":"Police clamp down on crime in KwaZakhele","author":"PE Express","date":"17 April 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Police arrested 11 suspects, issued fines and seized drugs and suspected stolen property during Operation Shanela II in KwaZakhele yesterday.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Around 58 vehicles were stopped and searched during Operation Shanela II in KwaZakhele.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/crime-crackdown.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/crime-crackdown.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/crime-crackdown.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/crime-crackdown.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":269637,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/petrol-bombs-and-hijacked-vehicles-seized-in-police-raid\/","url_meta":{"origin":54064,"position":4},"title":"Petrol bombs and hijacked vehicles seized in police raid","author":"PE Express","date":"8 September 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Law enforcement officers made major discoveries during a crime prevention operation, uncovering 16 petrol bombs and several hijacked vehicles, including one stolen six years ago in Cape Town.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A crime prevention operation, uncovered 16 petrol bombs and several hijacked vehicles in Nelson Mandela Bay.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/petrol-bombs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/petrol-bombs.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/petrol-bombs.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/petrol-bombs.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/petrol-bombs.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/petrol-bombs.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":265869,"url":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/police-still-searching-for-two-missing-males-in-the-free-state\/","url_meta":{"origin":54064,"position":5},"title":"Police still searching for two missing males in the Free State","author":"Teboho Setena","date":"5 July 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The police in the Free State continue with their search for two missing young males, one being a teenage boy. According to the police, Jaden Swarts (17) and Andile Petrus Zungulwa (20) went missing days apart, on 24 and 28 June. Swarts reportedly went missing from the Charlotte Theron Children's\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;News&quot;","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Jaden-Swarts.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Jaden-Swarts.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Jaden-Swarts.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Jaden-Swarts.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Jaden-Swarts.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"BloemNuus","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/bloemnuus.co.za","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54064","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54064"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54064\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/54067"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54064"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54064"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54064"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=54064"},{"taxonomy":"publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/peexpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/publication?post=54064"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}