Speaking at the funeral of Const. Bipelo Senoge, one of three officers whose bodies were discovered at the Hennops River in Centurion days after being reported missing, Mchunu did not hold back in his condemnation of brutal acts that led to police officers’ deaths in general.

“As we reflect on this tragic loss, we must also acknowledge the ever-present challenges we face. To fight crime effectively, we need every one of our members. Families and communities are the ones who suffer most from the agony caused by criminals, whether these criminals are South African or foreign nationals,” said Mchunu.

“The lengths to which these criminals go when committing these crimes are sadistic, and involve sheer cruelty,” he added.

Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu expressed his concerns regarding the death of officers. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

Consts Senoge, Cebekhulu Linda, and Keamogetswe Buys were young officers with promising futures. According to Mchunu, their lives, marked by dedication and service, were tragically cut short.

Mchunu also criticised the wave of social media speculation surrounding the circumstances of the constables’ deaths, stating that unfounded claims and gossip only serve to deepen the grief of bereaved families. He emphasised that three officers lost their lives in a car accident.

The late Const. Senoge was honoured with an official funeral at South Park Cemetery. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

“This already painful situation was worsened by speculation circulating on various social media platforms,” Mchunu said. 

“Right from the beginning, we believed that the best way of coming to terms with the situation and handling it properly, with integrity, was to establish a 24-hour Venue Operational Centre, with a multi-disciplinary team comprising the heads of intelligence and detectives from Limpopo, Free State, and Gauteng.”

He further detailed the deployment of elite units within the South African Police Service (SAPS) to investigate the case thoroughly.

“The broader team included highly skilled and experienced police officers from across the SAPS, including seasoned expert detectives, crime and counter-intelligence operatives, as well as members from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations, Tactical Operations and Management Section, and our cybercrime unit, among other specialised units.”

The late Const. Senoge was honoured with an official funeral at South Park Cemetery, attended by top dignitaries including Deputy Police Minister Shela Boishelo, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, Provincial Commissioner Baile Motswenyane, Speaker of the Free State Legislature Mxolisi Dukwana, and other Executive Council members.

Meanwhile, a funeral service for Const. Cebekhulu Linda is currently underway at St. Rose Catholic Church on Coronyane Street in Bochabela. His final resting place will be at Magengenene.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg