Police divers were activated, and recovery operations were conducted.
Picture: iStock
Police have recovered two bodies from a submerged vehicle in the Eastern Cape.
The grim discovery was made on Saturday, 7 June 2026.
Police divers were activated, and recovery operations were conducted to retrieve the vehicle and search for the missing occupants.
Search
Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the search for a third person continues.
“The submerged vehicle in Addo has now been recovered from the water. Sadly, two bodies have been recovered from the vehicle, while one person remains missing. Search and recovery operations are continuing.”
Binqose said additional resources will be deployed to assist with the search once emergency personnel have completed the necessary processes at the scene.
Accidents
The accident occurred on Saturday morning when a light motor vehicle carrying five occupants veered off a farm road in Addo and plunged down an embankment into a body of water at approximately 2:30am.
In a separate incident on the R56 between Ugie and Elliot at approximately 1:30am one person was killed and six others sustained injuries following a head-on collision involving a bakkie and a sedan.
“The deceased, an adult male, was certified dead upon arrival at Ugie Saps. The injured were transported for medical treatment,” Binqose said.
“A case of culpable homicide has been opened, and investigations into the circumstances surrounding the collision are underway.”
Mpumalanga crashes
As recovery efforts continue in Addo and investigations into both incidents proceed, the department extended its condolences to the affected families and once again appeals to motorists to exercise extreme caution on the roads, particularly during nighttime travel and in adverse weather conditions.
Meanwhile, six lives were lost in a devastating head‑on collision near Mpumalanga, prompting Community Safety MEC Jackie Macie to renew his call for motorists to remain vigilant.
Injuries
The accident between two light delivery vehicles (LDVs) occurred on the R542 between Van Dyk’s Drift and Blinkpan, near Middelburg, on Friday morning.
The deceased, who died at the scene, included both drivers and four passengers.
Four other people sustained serious injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals in Middelburg and Emalahleni for treatment.
