Key Points:
- A man faced a bones arrest Mpumalanga after allegedly sleeping with exhumed human bones.
- The bones were reportedly exhumed from the graves of his father and grandfather.
- Police acted on a report and found the man asleep with the bones in his home.
- The man faces charges of violating graves, and an investigation is underway.
- Separately, the bodies of three missing police officers were found in a river.
MASOYI, South Africa (AP) — Police in Mpumalanga province arrested a 29-year-old man. They discovered that he was allegedly sleeping with human bones. He had exhumed these bones from two graves. This bizarre bones arrest Mpumalanga case has shocked the community.
Discovery at Cemetery and Suspect’s Residence
Brigadier Donald Mdhluli is a police spokesperson. He stated that the man unearthed the remains from a cemetery in Swalala. Subsequently, police arrested the suspect on Monday, April 28, 2025. They acted after receiving a report about the disturbed graves.
“Upon arrival at the cemetery, authorities confirmed that the graves had indeed been disturbed as reported,” Mdhluli said in a statement. “Swift action was then taken to locate the suspect. Police cornered him in his residence at the RDP houses in Swalala.”
Bones Identified as Relatives’ Remains
According to Mdhluli, police officers entered the man’s home. They found him asleep with the bones placed beside him in bed. Furthermore, authorities identified the disturbed graves. These graves belonged to the suspect’s father and grandfather, who were buried in 2010.
Man Charged, Investigation Underway
Mdhluli confirmed that police immediately took the suspect into custody. He has been charged with violation of graves. Following the arrest, police confiscated the bones. The South African Police Service is now conducting an extensive investigation into these remains. Authorities have vowed to thoroughly investigate this disturbing case.
Court Appearance Scheduled
The suspect is expected to appear in the Masoyi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Separately: Bodies of Missing Police Officers Recovered
In an unrelated incident, the bodies of three police officers had been missing for a week. These bodies were among five bodies that were recovered from the Hennops River on Tuesday.
Identification of Missing Officers
National Commissioner of police General Fannie Masemola spoke at a media briefing near the river. He said that the families of Constable Keamogetswe Buys, Constable Boipelo Senoge, and Constable Cebekhulu Linda had identified their bodies at the Tshwane mortuary.
“It has been a difficult six days for members of the South African Police Service and affected families,” Masemola told reporters. “We searched everywhere for our three missing police officers.”
Details of Officers’ Disappearance
The three officers were last seen in the early hours of Thursday. They were at a petrol station near the Grasmere Toll Plaza on the N1 highway in Gauteng province. Their vehicle was a Volkswagen Polo hatchback with the registration number JCL 401 FS. Moreover, their cellphones and tracking device were also switched off after they left the station.
Extensive Search Leads to Recovery
Masemola stated that a high-level team of investigators had worked tirelessly. They worked across Gauteng, the Free State, and Limpopo provinces. This team pursued all possible leads in the search for the missing officers. Ultimately, their search led them to an area along the N1 highway. This area stretched from the Grasmere Toll Plaza past the Buccleuch interchange and onto John Vorster Drive in Centurion. The circumstances surrounding the deaths of the officers and the other two individuals found in the river remain under investigation.
