Three Zimbabwean nationals found dead in Nkomazi River, Mpumalanga

Mapaballo Borotho

Three Zimbabwean men were found dead in the Nkomazi River inside a Mpumalanga game reserve on Friday.
Police confirmed the bodies had no visible injuries and have opened an inquest to determine the cause of death.
A post-mortem will be conducted, and the men’s identities will be released once their families are informed.

Police in Mpumalanga have opened an inquest after the bodies of three Zimbabwean nationals were recovered from the Nkomazi River at a game reserve on Friday.

According to police, the bodies showed no visible injuries.

The three men had been reported missing earlier the same day by people they lived with, who told authorities the men had said they were heading to the game reserve but never returned.

Police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said officers accompanied the complainants to the reserve, where officials revealed that people often gained entry without authorisation.

About a week earlier, individuals had been spotted inside the reserve but fled when approached by security.

“Members went to check the area where they were last seen and noticed three bodies floating in the Nkomazi River. The SAPS Search and Rescue team, along with divers, were summoned to retrieve the bodies. An inquest has since been opened to determine the cause of death,” Mdhluli confirmed.

A post-mortem will be conducted, and the identities of the deceased will be released once their families are notified.

Police have so far confirmed that all three men were originally from Zimbabwe.