By Mapaballo Borotho
- Two bodies were recovered from a submerged SUV in the Crocodile River in Nelspruit on Sunday.
- The victims are a 20-year-old man and an unidentified woman, while a third occupant is believed to be missing.
- Police have opened a culpable homicide case and investigations are continuing.
A case of culpable homicide has been opened after two bodies were recovered from the Crocodile River in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga, on Sunday, 7 June 2026.
The discovery was made after police received information about a white vehicle that had allegedly plunged into the river during the early hours of Sunday morning.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Jabu Ndubane, emergency responders located the vehicle submerged in the river with two occupants trapped inside.
“The bodies were found trapped inside a white SUV, and specialised rescue equipment, including the Jaws of Life, had to be used to retrieve them,” said Ndubane.
The deceased have been identified as a 20-year-old man and a woman believed to be between the ages of 18 and 23. The male victim was positively identified by family members, while the identity of the female victim is yet to be confirmed.
Ndubane said a third person may have been travelling in the vehicle.
“As police were preparing to leave the scene, another family arrived and informed members that their son had reportedly been travelling in the vehicle. According to the family, he has not returned home and they have been unable to reach him on his cellphone. They believe he may be the third victim still missing in the river,” he said.
Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, while search efforts continue for the missing person.
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