KEY POINTS
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Siyabonga Mvukuzo, missing since May 2, was identified via tattoos and fingerprints after his body was found on the N3 highway with severe injuries.
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His family conducted a grueling 18-day search across Gauteng, hiring a private investigator and visiting mortuaries to locate him.
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Police have opened a hijacking and kidnapping case, but no arrests have been made as forensic investigations continue.
The family of Siyabonga Mvukuzo, a 37-year-old father of three from Libode, Eastern Cape, has confirmed the discovery of his body at the Heidelberg mortuary in Gauteng, ending an 18-day search marked by desperation and unanswered questions.
Mvukuzo vanished on May 2, 2025, while traveling to his Kempton Park home in Ekurhuleni. Initial reports suggested a hijacking, but the circumstances of his disappearance remained shrouded in mystery.
Family’s agonising search ends in tragic discovery
Mvukuzo’s parents traced his suspected route along the N3 highway, visiting multiple mortuaries until they identified their son’s body in Heidelberg on Tuesday. “We couldn’t recognize him due to severe injuries, but his tattoo, clothing, driver’s licence, and fingerprint confirmation from home affairs gave us closure,” said his sister, Nonthuthuzelo Mvukuzo. The family had enlisted a private investigator and traveled over 1,000 km from the Eastern Cape to Gauteng, combing hospitals and police stations for clues.
According to Sowetanlive, Gauteng police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed the identification but declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation. Last week, Col Mavela Masondo stated that a case of hijacking and kidnapping had been opened. “We are pursuing all leads, but forensic evidence will be critical,” Masondo added. Authorities are yet to confirm if the injuries sustained—reportedly “grievous bodily harm”—are linked to the hijacking or other motives.
Mvukuzo’s death adds to growing concerns about violent crime in Gauteng, where hijacking rates rose by 12% in 2024. Community activists have criticized delays in mortuary identification processes, which often force families to conduct their own searches. “The system failed Siyabonga. Families shouldn’t have to find their loved ones alone,” said Thando Nkosi, a local safety advocate.
The family plans to repatriate Mvukuzo’s remains to Libode for burial, where community members will hold a vigil to demand justice. “We need answers. Who did this, and why?” Nonthuthuzelo asked.
