By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@AdobeStock.
Seventeen-year-old Thomas “Junior” Sithole from Hoërskool Driehoek body has been found following a private boat cruise outing on the Vaal River on Friday.
Sithole last seen during the cruise with a group of friends, who claim they realised he was missing when the boat was returning to its destination.
His body was found floating in the water after days of intensive efforts by divers and police officers.
Family members identified the body as that of Sithole after South African Police Service (SAPS) Search and Rescue members retrieved it from the Vaal River.
While many questions remain unanswered, family members believe there may have been foul play in the death of their son.
SA Police Services (SAPS) spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed: “The body of a male that was found by the police at Vaal River on Monday, 12 January 2026 has been identified by a family member as that of Thomas Sithole, who was reported missing at Vanderbijlpark police station.”
Masondo revealed that police officers from Waterwing Search and Rescue resumed the search on Monday, which led to the recovery.
The case has since been taken over by police in Sasolburg, Free State, for further investigation.
Studies show that South Africa is among the top 45 countries in the world for drowning-related deaths, with approximately 1 500 annual drownings, of which 29% occur among children under the age of 14, according to Child Safe.