KEY POINTS
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A Mpumalanga man faces grave violation charges after allegedly exhuming and sleeping with his relatives’ bones, sparking cultural outrage and a police probe into ritual or psychological motives.
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Three missing SAPS officers were confirmed dead among five bodies recovered from the Hennops River, with investigations ongoing to determine the cause and locate their vehicle.
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Both cases underscore systemic challenges in South Africa, from ancestral rights enforcement to law enforcement safety, amid ongoing national debates on crime and tradition.
A 29-year-old Mpumalanga man was arrested on Monday, April 28, 2025, after police found him sleeping beside exhumed bones in graves believed to belong to his father and grandfather.
The suspect allegedly disturbed graves at Swalala Cemetery in Masoyi, where his relatives were buried in 2010. Brigadier Donald Mdhluli confirmed that officers responded to a community tip-off and discovered the remains in the suspect’s RDP home.
“The graves were identified as those of the suspect’s family members. He was charged with violation of graves under the National Health Act,” Mdhluli stated.
The bones from the graves, now evidence in an ongoing investigation, were reportedly positioned beside the suspect’s bed. He is set to appear in the Masoyi Magistrate’s Court on April 30.
Local residents expressed shock, with community leader Thandi Ngwenya calling the act “a deep betrayal of cultural and ancestral respect.” Grave desecration carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment in South Africa, where ancestral veneration remains a cornerstone of many traditions.
IOL reports that Police are probing whether the suspect’s actions were linked to ritual practices or mental health issues.
Suspect faces charges after disturbing graves
A 29-year-old Mpumalanga man was arrested on Monday, April 28, 2025, after police found him sleeping beside exhumed bones in graves believed to belong to his father and grandfather.
The suspect allegedly disturbed graves at Swalala Cemetery in Masoyi, where his relatives were buried in 2010. Brigadier Donald Mdhluli confirmed that officers responded to a community tip-off and discovered the remains in the suspect’s RDP home.
“The graves were identified as those of the suspect’s family members. He was charged with violation of graves under the National Health Act,” Mdhluli stated.
The bones from the graves, now evidence in an ongoing investigation, were reportedly positioned beside the suspect’s bed. He is set to appear in the Masoyi Magistrate’s Court on April 30.
