Severely burnt body found at Madiseng
It is not known if the man has commited suicide or has been killed
MADISENG – The charred body of an unidentified man believed to be in his 30s, was found at the Moopetsi River just outside Burgersfort last Thursday.
It was allegedly discovered by children who were playing on the banks of the river. The man was pronounced dead when emergency services and police arrived on the scene.
The first people to arrive also found a two-litre bottle containing fuel next to the corpse. It is still not known whether the man committed suicide or if he was murdered.
“The kids repeatedly told me they had seen a burnt body, but I kept ignoring them thinking they were just being naughty. Little did I know, it was real. A thought came to my mind to consider what they were saying. I went with them to the river, only to discover the body of the man. It was not that smelly, but the skin was peeled off on some parts. We suspect the incident might have happened the previous night (October 3),” said a community member who spoke to Steelburger/Lydenburg News.
Tubatse police came to the scene and covered the corpse. Thereafter a forensic pathologist was immediately dispatched to take it to the nearby mortuary in Lebowakgomo for a post-mortem.
According to the police, it was conducted on Wednesday and details regarding the investigation will be made available to the public in due time.
This reporter watched as eyewitnesses covered their faces as the body was loaded into the hearse. Others were heard mumbling, “Who could do such a thing? Some people are heartless. It’s inhumane”.
Crime-scene experts suspect the man might have died trying to run into the river in order to douse the fire. It is not yet known what led to the man’s death.
Police are appealing to the community for assistance with the investigation. They also urged locals who have missing family members to come forward. Tubatse police can be contacted on 013-216-8500.
It is not the first time – Steelburger/Lydenburg News previously published an article about Tshepiso Magabe who was also found killed and left to rot.
