Pienaar – Residents of Pienaar, near Mbombela in Mpumalanga, are reeling in shock following the exhumation of a second body this week from a shallow grave inside the local cemetery.
The first body exhumed on Monday at the cemetery in Luphisa, near Pienaar, was identified as missing 36-year-old Bonisiwe Mabuza.
Three suspects have since been arrested.
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On Wednesday, a second body – this time of a six-year-old child – was exhumed from a shallow grave in the same cemetery.
The body was identified as that of Junior Mabandla who was reported missing in Pienaar on 3 June 2024.
Junior was reported missing after he failed to return home when he went to a nearby tuckshop to buy sweets.
The disappearance of the six-year-old boy galvanised residents who searched for the six-year-old boy for several days and nights.
A police chopper was also used in the search without success.
However, police acting on a tip-off located and exhumed Junior’s body.
An 18-year-old man – suspected of the abduction and killing of the boy – was beaten up allegedly by angry residents.
Allegations are that the 18-year-old confessed to kidnapping and killing the boy.
The accused allegedly “pointed out” the shallow grave where Junior’s remains were exhumed.
Mpumalanga police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli said the suspect was in hospital under police guard.
“He is currently receiving medical treatment under police guard after being reportedly assaulted by some members of the community,” Colonel Mdhluli said.
Colonel Mdhluli said the identification of the deceased was confirmed by his next of kin.
“Junior Mabandla’s family members indicated that the clothes that were recovered together with the remains were that of their child,” lamented Colonel Mdhluli.
He said when the police returned from the body identification they found that the suspect had been badly beaten.
The acting provincial commissioner of the SA Police Service in Mpumalanga Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi has expressed sadness at the discovery of the remains of Junior.
