A tragic discovery was made at a game reserve in Elukwatini when the bodies of three Zimbabwean men were found floating in the Nkomazi River on Friday, August 22, 2025. The South African Police Service (SAPS) responded promptly, deploying divers and the search-and-rescue unit to retrieve the bodies, which reportedly showed no visible signs of injury. The incident came to light after the men’s housemates reported them missing, stating that the trio had informed them of plans to visit the game reserve but never returned. Upon visiting the reserve, police were told trespassing is a recurring issue there, and about a week prior to the discovery, unknown individuals had fled the area when approached by rangers.

Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, a provincial police spokesperson, confirmed that an inquest has been opened to determine the cause of death. The identities of the deceased have been confirmed as Zimbabwean nationals, though their names are yet to be made public pending notification of their families. Mpumalanga’s acting provincial police commissioner, Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to shed light on this shocking incident and establish the circumstances that led to the deaths of the three men. Authorities remain tight-lipped on further details while the investigation is ongoing, and the community awaits answers to the mysterious deaths in the river.