Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
20 May 2025
The police in Bethal, together with Bethal Forensic Pathology, request the assistance of the community in identifying the human remains kept at the government mortuary since June 2024.
According to information at police disposal, human remains with pieces of clothing were discovered by a cattle herder at the field near Ongesien farm between Bethal and Kriel while herding livestock in the afternoon on Thursday, 13 June 2024.
The cattle herder, who is a concerned citizen, notified the police about the discovery of the remains, and the police responded to the scene.
The police were led to the scene, and the remains were pointed out to the officers; hence, they found a skull, lower jaws, and bones with clothing that includes a navy blue jacket, black and white pants, a blue belt, a blue/black and yellow Kaizer Chiefs T-shirt, a maroon mask, black socks and black boots. In addition, a crutch.
Police then informed the Local Criminal Record Centre, where Sergeant Gabisile Mdluli, a forensic field worker, attended the scene to capture photos of the remains. Elsewhere, forensic pathologist Mr Bakkie Jele also attended and collected the human remains.
The remains were kept at the Bethal government mortuary. After the collection of the remains, DNA tests were conducted with one family from the nearby farm, but the results never matched, which made it difficult for the police and the forensic pathology to remove the remains from the storage.
Police therefore request the assistance of the public in identifying the human remains kept at the government mortuary and ask any family that had a member missing to visit Bethal government mortuary at the office of forensic pathology for DNA tests and identification.
Enquiries can be directed to Detective Andreas Strydom on 082 923 1592 or Mr Bakkie Jele, the forensic Pathologist on 073 700 1363.
