Umhlali K-9 unit traces body of missing Shaka’s Head man to La Mercy sugarcane field

The body of a man wearing missing Shaka’s Head resident, Dumisani Mabovana’s clothes was found on Tuesday but DNA testing is needed to confirm his identity.

The body was too decomposed for the family to make an accurate identification.

Mabovana went missing on October 3 and his family believe he had been lured into a trap by someone pretending to be romantically interested in him.

Mabovana had been messaging an unknown person via WhatsApp and had left to meet ‘her’ against his family’s wishes when he disappeared.

There was no trace of him, via social media or in person until his scent was detected by an Umhlali K-9 unit on October 16.

“We contacted the Uber driver who had dropped him off on the night he went missing and took the K-9 units to the exact location, on the N2 bridge near Umdloti,” said Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) chairperson, Nazir Sadack.

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K-9 Unit Dante picked up the scent and led CERT, Umhlali Saps and Saps Search and Rescue teams to a nearby cane field, inland of La Mercy.

“On October 16, we spent most of the day searching 1 half of the field, but had to leave when we found no leads and inclement weather rolled in.”

The search teams restarted the search on October 19, covering the 2nd half of the field, and found what is expected to be Mabovana’s remains.

The body had likely been decomposing in the exposed area for almost 3 weeks by the time it was discovered.

The victim’s sister-in-law Vuiceka Ndzonya said they were relieved and grateful that they could now bury the deceased.

“We went to Phoenix to try and identify the body on October 20, but unfortunately we could not.

“The remains were found with the clothes that Dumisani was wearing when he left on Sunday, so we do think it is him,” said sister-in-law Vuiceka Ndzonya.

DNA testing is being done but results can take up to 3 months.

In the interim, the family will bury the body in line with cultural traditions.

“Of course we wanted him to come home alive, but we knew that might not happen after he was missing for weeks.

“We would like to thank everyone who played a role in finding him. Saps made a promise that they would not rest until we found closure and they kept that promise.

“As painful and heartbreaking as this matter is, we are relieved to find his remains so that they can be laid next to his forefather. May his soul rest in eternity.”

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