Crocodile search yields remains of businessman swept away in Komati River

Human remains believed to be those of a 59-year-old businessman from Vanderbijlpark were recovered from a crocodile in the Komati River after a weeklong search complicated by floodwater, submerged debris and wildlife risk.

Police said the man disappeared in Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, on Monday night, April 28, 2026, after his Ford Ranger became stuck on a submerged low-lying bridge over the swollen river. Officers believe he was likely alone and may have jumped out of the vehicle when it became stranded. His vehicle was recovered from the river the next day, on Tuesday, April 29, 2026, but the search for the missing man continued.

The operation drew in a joint team from the South African Police Service Search and Rescue Unit, NatJoints, SANParks, Emergency Medical Services, Securecon and the Port Management Committee. Police described the effort as dangerous and complex, with flood conditions and crocodiles making recovery work especially hazardous. On Saturday, May 2, officers identified a crocodile suspected of having carried the remains and obtained permission to euthanize it. A police officer was then lowered from a helicopter into the crocodile-infested river to assist with the recovery.

Police said the remains were found inside the crocodile and will undergo DNA and forensic testing to confirm the identity. The recovery marked a grim breakthrough in a search that had stretched across multiple agencies and several days, with divers and rescuers working against fast-moving water and a river system known for wildlife danger.

Acting Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Dr. Zeph Mkhwanazi praised the team’s persistence under the conditions, while acting national commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane commended the officer’s bravery. The Komati River has a history of deadly incidents; SABC reported that two SANDF members were swept away in the same river in December 2025. This latest case has again exposed how quickly floodwater can turn a missing-person search into a high-risk recovery operation.