Community members from Waterfall Park in Mthatha have appealed to the councillors from King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Municipality in Mthatha to cut bushes in Mchathu River, since they say that the area is “a field of death”.
One of the residents, Noxolo Mncanca, said at the beginning of this month, she was called by her neighbour, Shumikazi Ncapayi, who said they saw a dog carrying a body part which may have been human.
“I went to her homestead with other neighbours, and I was very shocked to see an arm of a baby which had wounds as if it was hacked by a bush knife,” said Mncanca.
She said they called the Ngangelizwe Police Station informing them about this incident. According to her, two police officers arrived but stated that although it was the duty of forensic pathology to take the body part, they ended up taking the part.
“We thought they would come back the following day to make a thorough search to get the [other] remains but that has not happened yet. We are worried because surely the [rest of the] body is still in these bushes.”
She claimed that this was the fourth body that was found in those bushes.
Spokesperson for King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD) Local Municipality, Sonwabo Mampoza, said it’s the responsibility of the KSD Municipality to clean areas in the suburbs.
“With regard to cleaning the open spaces it is also our responsibility but in some areas all around townships, municipal mowers get damaged as a result of continuous illegal dumping in the open spaces and sewage leaks.
“Regarding to the request from the residents, we were only made aware of it a few weeks back. However, we have the means of cleaning that area so it will happen very soon. Then there is also a big role that needs to be taken by various stakeholders, which is the road section from our municipality, OR Tambo Water and Sewerage, cleaning and illegal dumping.
“We would speak with the relevant sections in OR Tambo so that we can solve this urgently.”
Police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, confirmed that indeed a human arm had been found on March 1, in the nearby bushes of Waterfall Park, at Ngangelizwe.
He said, according to the report, police were alerted to the incident by members of the community.
“The unidentified human arm has since been kept in the forensic mortuary. An inquiry docket has been registered for a further investigation. Police investigation continues and no arrests have been made.
“Anyone with information in relation to the unknown limb is requested to please make contact with Ngangelizwe Police Station or call the Crime Stop number 08600 10111,” said Kinana.
