THE mutilated body of a two-month old baby dumped on an uMhlanga beach may be muti related. The infant’s head and genitals had been removed and the naked body was found, half buried in the sand on Eastmoor Crescent Beach on Friday afternoon. Lt Raymond Deokaran, spokesman for the Durban North SAPS , said police were investigating a case of murder but could not rule out the possibility the murder may have been related to black magic.

Limbs from children, particularly the sexual organs, are said to be the most potent in muti related cases. They are sometimes taken from live victims because their screams are thought to improve the power of the medicines.

“At this point we cannot rule out that there is a possibility the murder and decapitation may have been muti related, but we cannot confirm it is. We are still investigating the circumstances around this tragic case. We also can’t identify the baby’s sex or race because of the mutilation,” he said.

Deokaran added the Durban K9 unit had failed to uncover the missing body parts.

“The K9 unit scoured the beach but unfortunately they did not find any of missing body parts.”