Free State – South African Police Service has opened an inquest docket after the body of an unidentified man was recovered from the Caledon River near Ficksburg in the Free State on Sunday.
Police said the discovery was made after a shepherd tending cattle spotted the body trapped among tree branches in a difficult-to-access section of the river and alerted authorities on Saturday evening.
According to police, officers from the Ficksburg Community Service Centre received the report at about 6.40pm on 9 May 2026.
The Phuthaditjhaba Police Search and Rescue Unit was immediately dispatched to the scene, but rescue efforts were hampered by fading daylight and dangerous water conditions.
“Upon arrival, the team was met with extreme challenges, including fading light and a dangerously high water flow,” police said in a statement.
The recovery operation resumed at daybreak on Sunday, with divers working for several hours in strong currents before successfully retrieving the body at approximately 1.40pm.
Police described the deceased as an unknown man believed to be in his mid-forties. He was wearing a blue overall, was barefoot and had no visible injuries.
Free State Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia praised the efforts of the search and rescue divers.
“These divers often operate in near-zero visibility and freezing, turbulent waters, risking their own safety to fulfill a sacred duty: returning the remains of loved ones to their families so they may find peace and begin the process of mourning,” Lesia said.
Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death are continuing.
Authorities have appealed to members of the public who may have information about the identity of the deceased to contact Detective Warrant Officer Mofolo of the Ficksburg Detective Services or use the Crime Stop hotline and MySAPSApp to provide anonymous tip-offs.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
