Johannesburg – A day after a local fisherman spotted a human head floating in a river near the border with Mozambique, SA Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga met with the family of a missing soldier.
The soldier went missing during a routine border patrol on Christmas Day 2025, when a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Military Police vehicle was swept away by the Komati River.
The vehicle and the soldier’s weapons have been recovered.
On Monday, 29 December 2025, Mozambique police said a local fisherman saw a human head floating in the river near the border.
Today, Tuesday, 30 December 2025, Minister Motshekga met with the family of the late Cpl T.J. Motsamai, who tragically lost his life during Operation CORONA.
She also engaged with SANDF members deployed in the affected area.
The Minister was accompanied by the SANDF Surgeon General, Chief of the South African Military Health Services, Lt Gen (Dr) Peter Maphaha, and Joint Operations Headquarters, General Officer Commanding, Maj Gen Godfrey Thulare, as well as other senior military personnel.
“The engagements were undertaken to convey condolences to the bereaved family and to provide leadership support and encouragement to soldiers on internal deployments,” the department said.
“This followed a tragic incident at Macadamia during routine patrol duties under Operation CORONA, where a military vehicle carrying members of the SANDF Military Police attempted to cross a river that had been heavily flooded due to recent adverse weather conditions.“
The department said two members were swept away by the strong river current.
The body of one member was recovered, while the second member remained missing.
However, the identity of the severed head, believed to be of the missing soldier, found floating in the river by a fisherman, was yet to be confirmed.
Police spokesperson Donald Mdhluli said DNA tests will be carried out to confirm whether the severed head found floating in the Komati River belongs to the missing soldier.
A search for the remaining member is ongoing, led by the South African Police Service Diving Rescue Team, and supported by the SANDF Air Force Oryx helicopter.
Minister Motshekga expressed her deepest condolences to the bereaved family and reaffirmed her department’s commitment to providing continued support to the family “during this difficult time”.
*All images courtesy SANDF COMMS
