The human bones kept for investigation purposes in the murder case of Mr Brakkies Engelbrect, were found in Newcastle on Tuesday, 23 March.
The Standerton Advertiser published in its 26 March edition an article on the remains, reported to have gone missing at a government mortuary in Standerton, on Friday, 19 March.
The deceased, Capt Johannes Engelbrecht (62), was reported missing in October last year and police launched a search for him.
According to a post from Pink Ladies, his wife spoke to him on 29 August last year 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 last year.
Police issued a statement the past week, saying their counterparts from the Department of Health informed them that the bones were mistakenly collected, together with two corpses scheduled to be taken to Newcastle.
The officials alerted their colleagues in Standerton after realising the error.
Police confirmed that the bones were not stolen.
A case of theft with an additional charge of defeating the ends of justice had however, been opened.
The suspect in the murder case, Mr Sanele Msimang, appeared in the Standerton Magistrate’s Court on 18 March, 23 March and 24 March.
Mr Msimang (26) handed himself over to the Harrismith Police Station on 12 March.
According to police, he informed them that he killed Capt Engelbrecht and buried his remains in a shallow grave.
The suspect was detained at Harrismith Police Station and transported to Standerton Police Station.
He pointed out where the remains were buried, it was exhumed and taken to the state mortuary for further investigation.
The newspaper has been trying to contact the late Mr Engelbrecht’s wife and one daughter, who were reported to be unable to find closure after the turn of events.
Although several phone numbers were obtained, none yielded the desired result.
The communications officer of the Standerton Police, W/O Nkosinathi Khanyile, said on Thursday, 25 March that Mr Msimang was remanded in custody, pending mental observation, till 27 May.
