As South Africa commemorated Youth Day on June 16, the recovery of Zenande Chiloane’s body from the Crocodile River cast a bittersweet shadow over the occasion. Chiloane was the third victim of a crash that claimed the lives of two other students.

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His body was found on an island in the river a few kilometres downstream from the accident scene.

“We found him caught on a tree branch. We had searched the same island a few days earlier but did not see him. Days later, his T-shirt floated to the surface, allowing us to locate him,” explained Captain Pottie Potgieter of the Ehlanzeni Diving Unit.

Volunteers searched through dense vegetation and used pangas to clear a path.

His body was positively identified by his next of kin.

After nine days of uncertainty, Chiloane’s family finally received closure and has requested privacy during this difficult time.

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Chiloane, Vigo Godfrey and Tintswalo Khoza were travelling from a local restaurant on June 7 when their vehicle crashed into the river. Khoza and Godfrey’s bodies were recovered on the day of the accident.

A case of culpable homicide has been opened, and police investigations are continuing.