The Hlatshwayo family in Bophelong near Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, is left reeling in shock after they were called to a crime scene where the lifeless body of one of their own, Mandla Hlatshwayo, was found dumped.

This is after the 31-year-old was discovered in an open veld in the early hours of yesterday – hacked to death and some of his body parts missing.

His teeth were scattered near his body and the family allege passers-by saw six men in blue overalls committing the crime.

Describing the horrific murder scene where Mandla’s body was found, his disturbed mother, Philisiwe (51), said her son had a flat face as if he was hit with a brick.

His nose and eyes were missing, his skinned peeled off on the face, leaving the family identifying the deceased by his toes.

“I woke up in the morning to prepare Mandla’s sibling for school. I took a power nap immediately after she left. Woke up to go buy fat cakes, and just when I boiled some water for tea, a young man roughly knocked on the door. When I opened, he told me to quickly come with, to where Mandla’s body lied,” she said.

“I took some time to try and reach some of our relatives because I didn’t think I was strong [enough] to go there alone,” she added.

Philisiwe said she last saw her son the day before.

“The last sight of Mandla was when he was in the yard washing his blankets. I went to his room to leave him one, since the ones on the wire didn’t dry. When I was notified of his murder, I checked his bedroom and found the blanket as I left it,” said the mother.

“When I got to the scene, I couldn’t recognise my son. His face was muffed up, his eyes and nose were missing and his teeth were scattered next to him. Besides his hand having a ring, I had to take out his sneaker to check his toes, that’s how I recognised him,” she said.

Philisiwe added that her son was struggling from drug addiction but ‘didn’t deserve to die like an animal’.

“I have tried to hand him over to the police, but they always told me I must bring proof. He was a naughty boy, we witnessed that first hand when he stole from me but [he] never deserved to die like this. I pray that his blood doesn’t go in vain, his murderers should face the might of the law,” she said.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said a murder case was opened and no suspects have been arrested.

“The suspects are unknown at this stage and the circumstances that led to this incident will also be part of the investigation,” she added.