Cape Town – Limpopo police are investigating a case of violation of a grave and theft of a corpse after a deceased man’s body was dug out of the grave on Sunday.
According to police, the incident occurred at Senakwe Section.
Police were alerted to the incident when one of the family members visited the grave in preparation for an upcoming tombstone unveiling, said police spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo in a statement.
“One of the family members had on Sunday, 5 February 2023, reportedly gone to the cemetery to clean the grave site in preparation for the upcoming gathering of unveiling of the tombstone, when she discovered that the grave had been dug open and the corpse had been stolen. She then alerted family members and police were also notified.
“The police, when arriving at the scene, were met by the unusual site of the violated grave having a hole and an open coffin with no corpse inside,” said Mojapelo.
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A preliminary probe conducted at the scene by the police established that the suspect(s) accessed the graveyard by cutting the fence.
“Modike Philemon Masedi whose body was stolen, reportedly died on 15 January, 2022, and was buried seven days later on the 22nd. The motive for this incident is unknown at this stage,” Mojapelo said.
The provincial commissioner of police in Limpopo, Lieutenant-General Thembi Hadebe expressed “shock” at the incident and ordered the perpetrator(s) to be hunted down and brought to book.
“We call on community members in the area to respect the unfolding investigations conducted by the police and desist from pointing fingers as these often play into instigators of vigilantism in which people take the law into their own hands,” Hadebe said.
Cases of violation of a grave and theft have since been opened.
Anyone with information that could assist in this investigation may contact detective commander Warrant Officer Nthai Modjadji on 060 996 0062 or 015 386 9940 or crime stop 08600 10111.
Alternatively, they could visit their nearest police station or use MySAPS App, police said.
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Picture: saps.gov.za
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
