Friends, families and colleagues are expected to gather in mourning for a joint memorial service of the fallen officers at Bobbies Park in Bloemfontein on Tuesday (6/5).

Consts Chebekhulu Linda (24), Keamogetswe Buys (30), and Boipelo Senoge (20) were reported missing on Thursday (24/4) during a trip from Bloemfontein to Limpopo for deployment. Their disappearance sent shockwaves across the country, sparking a nationwide outpouring of concern. The heartbreak deepened when the trio’s bodies were found in a submerged vehicle days later.

With the nation still reeling, grief-stricken families are left with more questions than answers as post-mortem examinations are yet to be concluded.

Sipho Linda, the father of Linda, expressed the anguish and confusion that continue to torment the families.

“Reality has struck that we are about to bury our children,” he said. “This has been more of a dream to us, hoping that someone might wake us up and say it was a joke. But today, on Tuesday, we are realising as families that it is happening as we are attending their memorial service.”

Linda voiced his concerns about conflicting reports surrounding the incident. 

“We still have questions, we have questions because at first this was reported as hijacking or kidnapping. Then we were told that it was an accident. The way the accident happened – we believe it was an accident, but what led to the accident? That is what we want to know.”

“Knowing my son, he was very careful. He wouldn’t drive from Bloemfontein to the scene if he was negligent, and why was he driving on the far left?” he asked.

“There was talk about the car capsizing before it landed in the river, what led to that? And if the car capsized, somebody must have seen it. We still have questions but for now we are allowing ourselves time to grieve and lay them to rest, and then we will await the police to come to us and give us a full report.”

Free State provincial police spokesperson Brig. Motantsi Makhele confirmed that each officer will receive an official funeral service on different days.

Senoge will be laid to rest on Thursday (8/5). A service will be held at St Peter Anglican Church in Rocklands, Mangaung, from 08:00 to 11:00, followed by the burial at South Park Cemetery.

Linda will be buried on Friday (9/5). His funeral will also take place in Mangaung from 08:00 to 11:00, with burial at the Magengenene Cemetery.

Buys will be laid to rest on Saturday (10/5). Her funeral service will take place at Grassland Hall from 08:00 to 09:00, with the burial to follow at Thaba Nchu cemeteries.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg