The sudden death of a prominent businessman in Polokwane is now even more suspicious after the family of Theophilus Mphosi revealed that an independent pathologist found that he was poisoned. The state has since indicated that their post-mortem results have also been handed over to the police.

After Mphosi’s sudden death in June 2022, his sister Moditswi Cindrella Ramokoto successfully petitioned the Limpopo High Court in Polokwane in August last year to have his remains exhumed for a second autopsy, which was conducted in September.

Mphosi, head of the Rheinland Group of companies, died at the age of 40. His bodyguard reported that he started having seizures while returning from a tombstone unveiling. He had previously shown no signs of illness.

The initial autopsy concluded that he died from pneumonia.

In a statement released by the Mphosi family, they revealed that a second autopsy conducted by a privately hired expert confirmed that Mphosi had been poisoned.

The family also expressed frustration over delays in releasing the state’s pathology report, which is crucial for the ongoing murder investigation.

Read more: Polokwane businessman’s remains exhumed at sister’s request

Last Wednesday, the family stated that two independent forensic pathologists who examined the remains confirmed that Mphosi had died from poisoning. Despite these findings, the criminal investigation cannot proceed without the official report from the state pathologist, which is essential for moving the case forward.

“The delay in receiving the state pathology report is causing significant distress to the family and is hindering justice. Without this report, law enforcement officials cannot take the necessary steps to further investigate, charge, and prosecute those responsible for his death,” the family stated.

They emphasised that timely forensic reports are crucial in criminal investigations, especially in cases of potential foul play.

The Department of Health on Monday announced that the state’s post-mortem results had been handed over to the police.

The police’s Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the case had been transferred to the Mpumalanga police to accommodate the residential address of Mphosi’s close family.

However, Mpumalanga police indicated that the investigation was taken over by detectives from the national office.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe did not respond to enquiries made by Polokwane Observer regarding this matter.