Limpopo police have opened an inquest after discovering human remains at Mangwele Mountain in the Siloam policing area of the Vhembe District. The remains could be those of a long-lost woman from the village.
Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the alarm was raised at about 12:45 on Monday, December 1, when a community member reported to the Community Service Centre (CSC) Commander that they had spotted what looked like a human skull and bones on the mountain.
Ledwaba said that Siloam SAPS members immediately responded and, with the assistance of local residents, were guided to the exact location of the grim discovery.
“When police arrived at the scene, they found a decomposed skull and scattered bones, along with several personal items. Among the belongings were clothing pieces, a black purse, a handbag, an ID card, and a cellphone, which had been placed under a large stone.”
Ledwaba added that all relevant stakeholders, including the SAPS Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC), were activated to process the scene and collect evidence.
He further revealed that preliminary investigations revealed that the items found at the site are believed to belong to a woman from Tshiheni Village who was reported missing in September 2022.
“A missing person enquiry had been opened at Siloam SAPS at the time of her disappearance,” he said.
According to Ledwaba, a family member later arrived at the scene and positively identified the clothing and ID card as those of her mother.
“The skull and bones were collected by the LCRC for DNA analysis to conclusively confirm the identity of the deceased,” Ledwaba said, adding that forensic results will guide the police in determining the next steps.
Police investigations are ongoing, and authorities are working to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, including how her remains ended up on the mountain and whether foul play may have been involved.
The Star