Johannesburg – Law enforcers acting on a tip-off about a stolen vehicle being stripped at a house in Soweto were shocked to find two buckets containing suspected human organs, described as hearts and lungs, when they swooped on the property.
Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla said two male suspects were arrested following the gruesome discovery at a residence in Naledi, Soweto, on Thursday evening, 9 July 2026.
Narrating events that led to the arrest, Superintendent Fihla said: “JMPD officers were conducting routine Crime Prevention duties when they received a tip-off regarding a vehicle being stripped at a residence on Nape Street, Naledi”.
Superintendent Fihla said upon arriving at the specified address, officers noted the property gate was open and proceeded to enter the yard.
“After discovering the front door of the house half-open and receiving no response to their knocks, officers entered the premises,” the JMPD spokesperson said.
“They encountered a male suspect inside the house.
“After officers identified themselves and stated their purpose, the suspect indicated that the vehicle in question was located in the garage and belonged to the homeowner.”
A thorough inspection of the garage revealed a white VW Caddy belonging to the National Department of Health.
A verification check confirmed that the vehicle had been positively flagged as hijacked and was already in the process of being stripped.
Officers expanded their search of the property, subsequently discovering a second male suspect hiding in the backyard.
Both suspects were immediately arrested.
“A further search of the yard led to a highly disturbing discovery: two buckets allegedly containing human organs, identified as hearts and lungs,” Superintendent Fihla said
Both arrested suspects have been processed and detained at the Naledi Police Station.
They face charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and unlawful possession of human organs.
Superintendent Fihla said JMPD and the South African Police Service were working toward establishing if the organs were indeed of humans and, if so, their origin.
The owner of the house has not yet been located and remains a person of interest for the police.
