MPUMALANGA – Rescue operations are underway along the Crocodile River as authorities continue searching for a missing occupant of a vehicle recovered from the water with two fatalities inside.
The incident unfolded when a car failed to halt at an intersection, collided with a perimeter fence, traveled roughly 500 meters, struck a second fence, and ultimately entered the river. Police divers conducted an extended recovery effort in frigid, low-visibility conditions to retrieve the submerged vehicle and the two victims found within.
Among those recovered was the vehicle’s driver, a 20-year-old man whose 21st birthday was scheduled for July 7. A case of culpable homicide has been formally opened, and investigators are pursuing all leads, with the possibility of additional charges as the inquiry progresses.
Jabu Ndubane, spokesperson for the South African Police Service in Mpumalanga, provided updates on the identification process. One family has been contacted concerning the female victim, who was discovered in the vehicle’s boot, and formal identification was pending. Separately, another family reported their son missing after being unable to reach him by phone; they confirmed he was expected to be traveling in the car that day.
“The search will continue today,” Ndubane confirmed. “The SAPS search and rescue team will assess whether the body may be lodged within the river, as indications suggest the individual could have exited the vehicle somehow. The exact circumstances remain unclear.”
Operations were scheduled to recommence at 9:00 AM, with safety protocols prioritized due to multiple environmental hazards. Ndubane highlighted the presence of crocodiles and hippos in the river, a downstream waterfall, and water conditions that are both cold—posing hypothermia risks to divers—and murky, significantly limiting underwater visibility.
As a precaution, response teams will first utilize drone technology to survey the riverbanks for any signs of the missing person before deploying personnel into the water. Ndubane noted that the vehicle sustained major damage, including a detached sunroof, raising the possibility that the third occupant may have been ejected during impact.
Authorities clarified that those involved were students from local colleges, not a university. Information regarding the identity or age of the missing third individual has not yet been verified.
Families continue to await developments as specialized units conduct a careful, methodical search under difficult and potentially dangerous conditions.