MALALANE – Police are busy with two in-depth investigations after two bodies were found near town on Monday.
The first was that of missing resident, Mr Wouter Vosloo, which was found in the bush just off the gravel road between Fish Eagle Bend and Kaapmuiden early Monday morning.
A passer-by had reportedly noticed a strange smell and went to investigate and stumbled upon the deceased.
According to Sgt Gerald Sedibe of Mpumalanga SAPS, an inquest docket has been opened and the investigating is still at a sensitive stage. It’s still not clear what led to Vosloo’s death and a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death.
His valuables, cellphone and wedding ring were reportedly still on his person.
Vosloo was last seen leaving his home on June 10 at 15:00 and heading up Air Street into town. As he regularly went on walks, no one thought it strange.
His wife, Lizette, started worrying when he did not return by nightfall and started calling around to find out where he was.
Community members and local security companies stepped in to help and Ms Mariette Preddy helped to coordinate the search.
A missing person’s notice was sent out via Facebook and the search party received various tip-offs, which all turned out to be false.
Preddy urged community members to stop spreading rumours and false information regarding the case, as police would only reveal information once the investigation had been concluded.
According to Lizette, he was a wonderful family man who was crazy about their two children, Dehan and Simoné, both pupils of Hoërskool Nelspruit.
Wouter enjoyed playing golf when he had the chance, loved visiting the Kruger National Park and was always full of jokes and liked making people laugh.
Lizette said the support they had received over the past week and a half was amazing. The family thanked everyone who helped with the search, prayed for them and stood by them in various ways. “Without the community’s support we wouldn’t have been able to stay standing. Thank you to everyone who came by, sent things at the perfect moment thanks to our Heavenly Father.”
A memorial service will be held on Friday at 10:00 at the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk in Fish Eagle Bend, Malalane.
The second body was found on Monday afternoon, in a ditch between the road and sugar-cane fields outside Malalane. Sedibe stated that a passer-by had noticed a man lying next to the road and called police to investigate.
He had no visible injuries and has not yet been identified. An inquest docket has been opened at the local police station.
Anyone with information regarding these two cases is urged to contact the Malelane Police Station on 013-790-2720.
Read the previous articles on Vosloo’s disappearance:
Search is still on for beloved family member
Missing: Community’s help needed to find Wouter Vosloo
