Two sergeants attached to the South African Police Service (SAPS) Tactical Response Team (TRT) died in a single-vehicle accident on the N4 highway near eMalahleni (Witbank), Mpumalanga, on Tuesday evening, 5 May 2026.
The officers were travelling in a state vehicle, reported as a BMW, en route to Pretoria where they were due to testify in court cases. The accident occurred just after 22:00. The vehicle overturned, crashed through barriers, hit a tree, and rolled down towards the Olifants River, becoming wedged between bushes. One sergeant was ejected from the vehicle, while the other was trapped inside.
Both members were deployed to KwaZulu-Natal as part of the eManguzi Task Team (also referred to as Project Umgodi wemvubu in some reports), assisting with operations combating cross-border crimes in the Manguzi area near the Mozambique border. They were stationed at units including Thembisa TRT and Pretoria Central TRT.
The SAPS has withheld the names of the deceased pending formal notification of immediate family members.
Acting National Commissioner of the SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane (also referred to as Dimpane in statements), extended condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the two sergeants. “The loss of these dedicated officers is a devastating blow to the organisation. They served the country with commitment and courage. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and loved ones during this painful time,” Lieutenant General Dimpane stated.
The SAPS has deployed its Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) unit to provide psychosocial support to the affected families and colleagues, particularly those in the eManguzi Task Team.
Recovery operations at the scene took approximately eight hours due to the vehicle’s position and continuous rain. Personnel from Van Wettens Recovery assisted in retrieving the vehicle.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer David Ratau noted that investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing. SAPS and emergency services have expressed deep condolences.
This incident has been widely reported by outlets including eNCA, with confirmation from official SAPS channels and local Mpumalanga media. No further details on passengers, mechanical issues, or other contributing factors have been released at this stage.
The SAPS community continues to mourn the loss of these two TRT members who were actively contributing to specialized crime-fighting efforts in KwaZulu-Natal prior to the accident.
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