Police in the Limpopo province of South Africa have a peculiar case on their hands after thieves stole a corpse from a grave in Makwakwaila, leaving it empty.

One of the family members discovered that the grave was tempered with on Sunday when she went to clean the grave site ahead of a ceremony to unveil the tombstone.

The deceased, Modike Philemon Masedi, died on 15 January last year and was buried seven days later.

SA Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo said the motive for the incident is not yet known as police hunt for suspects.

“Upon arriving at the scene, police were met by the unusual sight of the violated grave having a hole and an open coffin with no corpse inside.

“Preliminary probe conducted at the scene established that the suspects accessed the graveyard by cutting the side fence. They then dug a hole next to the grave, accessed the coffin and stole the corpse. The motive for this incident is unknown at this stage,” said Mojapelo said on Tuesday.

Investigators in Mokwakwaila opened a case of desecration of a grave and theft of a corpse.

Mojapelo said provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe “expressed shock” at the criminal act and ordered the perpetrators be hunted down and brought to book.

She warned community members to allow police to do their work.

“We call on community members in the area to respect the unfolding investigations conducted by the police and desist from pointing fingers, as these often play into instigators of vigilantism in which people take the law into their own hands,” she said.

Anyone with information that can assist investigators can contact crime stop on 0860010111.

Alternatively, they can visit the nearest police station or use MySAPS App 🔚🔚🔚

Jeon:


Nigerian miners taught them.

Jennyclay:

People from the west are coming for you

Pickmycall:
It could be that the casket was made of gold or the corpse was build with gold chains and dollars.

WannaHowzit:


“Upon arriving at the scene, police were met by the unusual sight of the violated grave having a hole and an open coffin with no corpse inside"

Pickmycall:
Where is the empty coffin?

Pickmycall:
Where is the empty coffin?

Hatrick01:
Cc: Irongalaxy

IronGalaxy:
Sorry buddy, not interested

Hatrick01:
just wanted to let u know that no nation is above crime.

Be it USA

IronGalaxy:
What gave you the impression I was oblivious to that fact?

Hatrick01:
i thought u southeners believed that nigeria is the only country with crime news everyday

Hatrick01:
Cc: Irongalaxy

mysticwarrior:
Irongalaxy and Tmksouth will soon come out and accuse Nigerians for this.

mysticwarrior:
Irongalaxy and Tmksouth will soon come out and accuse Nigerians for this.

WannaHowzit:


biscuitcarrier una dey still breathing? I'm speaking to you in your mother tongue coz I'm sure you're still in ICU from the brain haemorrhaging IG and TMK inflicted b4 you fell into a 2 year coma 🤕🤕🤕⛑️⛑️⛑️

IronGalaxy:
if the shoe fits....

mysticwarrior:


Lol, you sounded like clown while trying to write in pidgin, I heard you were caught sexually harassing a Zulu maiden during the Reed dance, and had to create another Moniker because you couldn't bear the shame here on nairaland.