UPDATE: Remains of former police officer stolen.
In a media statement of 23 March by the provincial police, Brig Leonard Hlathi said the human bones, reported to have gone missing, were found in Newcastle.
The suspect in the murder case is to appear in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court today, 24 March for a bail application to be heard.
The Standerton Advertiser will publish a more comprehensive article in its edition of 2 April.
23 March 2021: Remains of former police officer stolen in Standerton
Mpumalanga Police discovered the theft of human bones at a state mortuary in Standerton on Friday, 19 March.
According to a police statement, the bones were kept for investigation purposes in the case in which a 62-year-old-former police officer was murdered.
The late Mr Jochim Johannes Engelbrecht, called ‘Brakkies Engelbrecht’, visited the offices of the Standerton Advertiser sometime last year.
He was intent on beginning his own security company and wanted to place an advertisement in the newspaper.
It did not materialise since he went missing shortly thereafter.
Mr Engelbrecht missed an appointment once and came into the office and said he was on his way to his family.
Telephone calls to his cell phone number proved fruitless last year. According to information, his family reported him missing in October last year and police launched a search for him.
The national organisation Pink Ladies, posted a missing adult alert on 18 December, describing his build and facial characteristics.
According to their post, his wife spoke to him on 29 August at 10.30am and no further communication was possible since his phone was off. The late Mr Engelbrecht also did not draw his pension money in August and September.
The Standerton Advertiser was unable to reach his family for comment on Monday, 22 March, after it became known that the family is unable to find closure after the turn of events.
A call to the Pink Ladies for possible telephone numbers also proved unsuccessful due to the confidentiality of the matter.
A twist in the tale occurred this year when Mr Sanele Msimang (26) handed himself over to the Harrismith Police on Friday, 12 March.
Police indicated that Mr Mismang informed them that he killed his employer in Standerton somewhere last year and buried his remains in a shallow grave.
The suspect was detained at the Harrismith Police Station and arrangements were made for transport to Standerton, to face charges.
Upon arrival on Monday, 15 March, Mr Msimang arrived at the Standerton Police Station and cooperated in all aspects of the investigation, including pointing out where he buried the remains of his employer.
The remains were exhumed and taken for forensic tests. Police opened a case of murder and charged the suspect accordingly.
He appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 18 March and was remanded in custody until Tuesday, 23 March.
Police then received news that the seized human bones were reportedly missing.
A case of theft was opened accordingly with an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice. Police urged anyone with information to contact Det-Const Lefa Tsotetsi at 066 019 8487 or call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111.
The public can also send information via MYSAPSAPP. Police said all information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
