The Police at Masoyi has made an arrest following a deeply unsettling incident that transpired at a cemetery in Swalala in Masoyi near White River. A 29-year-old male suspect was apprehended yesterday, 28 April 2025, after Police acted on a report received about this gruesome incident.
According to the information provided, at about 13:30 on the day in question, a woman entered the Masoyi Police Station to report that a man had dug up two adjacent graves located in the cemetery under the jurisdiction of the Masoyi Policing Precinct. These graves were identified as those of the suspect’s father and grandfather, who were laid to rest in the year 2010.
Members from Visible Policing Unit at Masoyi promptly attended to the complaint and, upon arrival at the cemetery, confirmed that the graves had indeed been disturbed as reported. Swift action was taken to locate the suspect, who was cornered in his residence at the RDP houses in Swalala.
In a shocking turn of events, the suspect was found asleep in his bed with the bones believed to be from the graves, positioned next to him.
Police immediately took the suspect into custody and have charged him with violation of the graves.
The bones were confiscated and are now part of the ongoing investigation being conducted by the SAPS.
The suspect is expected to appear at the Masoyi Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 30 April 2025. The investigation remains ongoing, and further developments will be communicated as they unfold.
Meanwhile the Acting Provincial Commissioner of SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General (Dr) Zeph Mkhwanazi has strongly condemned the incident and also extended his gratitude to the one who alerted the Police about this horrendous act.
