Mbombela (Nelspruit) – Police have identified the deceased man and woman, found inside a Haval SUV that had plunged into the Crocodile River, as Godfrey Khoza and Vigo Khoza.
Witnesses alerted police in the early hours of Sunday, 7 June 2026, after they saw a car overshoot an intersection, crash over a fence, and land in the crocodile-infested river in Mbombela, Mpumalanga.
Soon after the police were alerted about the crash, a search and rescue team was dispatched, and they located the submerged car.
Brave police divers entered the freezing water and were able to ascertain that there were two bodies inside the submerged vehicle.
Using sophisticated equipment, the search and rescue team managed to drag the vehicle out of the river onto the riverbank.
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Family members who arrived on the scene during the search and rescue operation told police that they suspected a third person had been in the car.
They identified the missing person as a 21-year-old Zinande Chiloane.
Speaking on the SABC, Chiloane’s grandfather, Michael Mogale, said the family was devastated about his disappearance.
The grandfather said Chiloane had earlier been seen with his friends in the Haval SUV that crashed into the Crocodile River.
Chiloane has not responded to calls and messages sent to his phone. He remains missing.
Today, Tuesday, 9 June 2026, the police released the identities of the two deceased and confirmed that the search for a third person was ongoing.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jabu Ndubane said the rescue team resumed the search for Chiloane this morning.
The police spokesperson also revealed that a cellphone belonging to missing Chiloane was found inside the recovered Haval SUV.
Lieutenant Colonel Ndubane said drones would also be used to intensify the search along the Crocodile River.
