The teen was reported missing on Friday.
A body of a male was found at the Vaal River on Monday as teams continued their search for the missing 17-year-old pupil from Hoërskool Driehoek.
The boy, Thomas Junior Sithole, was reported missing on Friday following a private boat cruise outing on the Vaal River.
According to the family, the teenager was last seen during the cruise, but they only realised he was missing when the boat was returning.
Boy’s body found
Police have been searching the Vaal River for the missing Sithole since the incident was reported and made the grim discovery on Monday.
Police officers from Waterwing Search and Rescue found the body of a male at the Vaal River on Monday, 12 January 2026, police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo told The Citizen.
It cannot be confirmed at this stage if it is the body of a 17-year-old boy who was reported missing at Vanderbijlpark police station until he is positively identified by the family.
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‘Something fishy’
Thomas’ father, Steven Sithole, told reporters that the stories relayed to the family of what may have happened did not make sense.
“We feel there is something fishy here because I only got a call from my daughter’s friend and she wasn’t part of those kids. She told me that someone called her to say that my child is missing.
“We were shocked to hear because we never received a call from the group that he was on the cruise with. We only learnt of the incident on Saturday, around 8am, even though it happened on Friday. The boat driver said they opened a case at the Vanderbijlpark police station. However, when we went to the station, there was no such case opened,” Sithole said.
The family of the 17-year-old boy from Driehoek High School reported missing following a private boat cruise on the Vaal river on Friday suspects foul play. They say they were only informed about the incident on Saturday. @sholwana_z has more.
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) January 11, 2026
Watch: https://t.co/3B4StA1m3o pic.twitter.com/6HXs4XAUCa
Sithole’s aunt, Thekiso Radebe, said the family has many unanswered questions.
“We want to know where the boat they travelled on [is].”
Friends and relatives of the missing boy have been on the riverbanks at the Abrahamsrust Resort, where police divers have been conducting an operation.
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