A family whose relative disappeared two months ago has refused to accept that she could be dead, even after the arrested men allegedly confessed to killing her.

Rebecca Maleswena, 38, from Moganyaka village in Limpopo, an admin clerk at a local surgery in Marble Hall, mysteriously went missing after she allegedly received a call from an unknown person.

Police spokesperson Col Moatshe Ngoepe said they had followed up on information of a possibility that her body might have been thrown in a river in Leeuwfontein.

"The search operation in this river ensued from the beginning of last week for several days with no success."

Her brother Danny Masha told Sowetan the family believed she was still alive and had also consulted several spiritual leaders who affirmed their belief. "We urge the police to use any means available in order to get the truth from those suspects," he said.

Masha said police told him the suspects had confessed to kidnapping Maleswena and throwing her body into the crocodile-infested Olifants River. "For the past few days police have been searching for my sister's body in the river and she is not there. The suspects are trying to mislead the police and they didn't kill her. We have been praying for her safe return," he said.

Masha said Maleswena is a devoted Christian who prayed for and healed people.

Ngoepe said during the ongoing investigations in this matter, Suliman Makambira, 39, was arrested at Meadowlands in Soweto, Gauteng, whereas, Lucky Mmaphafudi, 30, and Selina Phiri, 40, were both arrested in Marble Hall.

Ngoepe said the three arrested suspects were positively linked to Maleswena's disappearance. "Phiri was first to be arrested a few days after Rebecca's disappearance and appeared before the Marble Hall magistrate's court. She was denied bail and the case was postponed to later this month for bail application and further police investigations.

"The other two suspects also appeared before the same court last week and their case was postponed for further investigations. These suspects are facing a charge of kidnapping."

Ngoepe said Maleswena went missing on February 28. "It is alleged the victim received a phone call from an unknown woman who arranged to meet her at a restaurant next to the Marble Hall taxi rank. She boarded a taxi from her home and was never seen again."