Human remains discovered during ongoing search of boy swept away at Lepelle River

MACHAKANENG – A fisherman made a gruesome discovery of the remains of an unknown person at the Olifants (Lepelle) River on Sunday 29 December 2019.

According to police Malipsdrift officers were informed and the divers attached to the search and rescue service of the South African Police Services (Saps), who were conducting searches along the banks of the same river looking for a 12 year-old boy who was a week ago swept away by the said river, were then summoned to the area.

On Sunday 22 December 2019 at about 14:00, a twelve year-old Sendfort Makgolane was allegedly swept away when he reportedly decided to swim in the said river at Machakaneng near Atok.

Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, Limpopo Provincial Police Spokesperson, said the 12 year-old victim apparently went to the river together with his friends to fetch water when they decided to swim.

Mojapelo said the incident was reported to the police on the same day and search and rescue operation was activated.

“The operatives, assisted by community members, conducted searches down the river banks since then but the body could not be found,” said Mojapelo.

Mojapelo added a man who was finishing in the said river, about 25 km from where the 12 year-old was swept down the river, noticed something floating in the river.

“The remains then docked into canes along the river bank, a short distance from where the man was fishing. After realizing that those were human remains, he raised an alarm,” explained Mojapelo.

Police said the remains would be sent for DNA examination to determine their identity.