A corpse was allegedly dug out and stolen in Limpopo. Image: SAPS.
Corpse allegedly dug out and stolen just before tombstone unveiling ceremony
The suspect(s) accessed the graveyard by cutting the side fence. They then dug a hole, accessed the coffin and stole the corpse in Limpopo.
A corpse was allegedly dug out and stolen in Limpopo. Image: SAPS.
Limpopo police have launched an investigation after a corpse was allegedly dug out of the grave and stolen by an unknown suspect(s) at Senakwe Section in the Mokwakwaila policing area.
One of the family members made the gruesome discovery on Sunday, 5 February, when she visited the cemetery to clean the gravesite in preparation for the upcoming gathering for the tombstone unveiling.
CORPSE DUG OUT AND STOLEN FROM GRAVEYARD
South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson in Limpopo, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, said when members arrived at the scene, they were met by the unusual sight of the violated grave having a hole and an open coffin with no corpse inside.
Mojapelo said a preliminary probe conducted at the scene established that the suspect(s) accessed the graveyard by cutting the side fence. They dug a hole next to the grave, accessed the coffin, and stole the corpse.
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“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,” he said.
Limpopo Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has expressed shock at what happened at the said graveyard and has ordered that the perpetrator(s) 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.
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Police said cases of violation of grave and theft were opened.
Anyone with information that can assist in this investigation has been urged to contact Detective-Commander Warrant Officer Nthai Modjadji on 060 996 0062 or 015 386 9940 or crime stop 0860010111. Alternatively, they can visit the nearest police station or use the MySAPS App.
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