Human remains have been found at the construction site of Chief Kenneth Nkosi’s offices. According to Julius Matsebula, Nkosi’s induna, the grave was exposed during building activities. “The matter was subsequently reported to the Barberton SAPS. The local museum then contacted the South African Heritage Resources Agency about the matter and it recommended JP Celliers, a curator at the Lydenburg Museum and a trained archaeologist to assist with the matter,” said Matsebula.
Celliers had already visited the site and confirmed that they were human remains. “He told us they were teeth and what seem to be fragmented pieces of the lower jaw bone with some decorated pottery and grave-dressing stones,” he said.
Matsebula said it had been agreed that the remains would be exhumed and reburied at the tribal graveyard. He said they were now calling on families which might have buried their loved ones in the area to come forward. “We want to give the person a dignified reburial. If any family knows or buried their family members there, we ask them to come forward to assist us to exhume the body and be buried elsewhere. That place is already earmarked for the chief’s offices,” said Matsebula.
The offices have been donated by Barberton Mines and consist of six offices, a courtroom, kitchen, waiting area and ablution block.
