Limpopo police have opened an inquest docket following the grim discovery of human remains at Mangwele Mountain in the Siloam policing area on Monday, 01 December 2025.
The investigation commenced after the Siloam Community Service Centre (CSC) Commander received a call from a community member at approximately 12:45, reporting the sighting of a skull and bones on the mountain. Police members responded immediately and were led to the precise location by community guides.
At the scene, authorities discovered a decomposed skull and scattered bones. Also found were several personal effects, including items of clothing, a black purse, a handbag, an ID card, and a cellphone, all concealed beneath a large stone. The South African Police Service (SAPS) Local Criminal Record Centre (LCRC) and other relevant stakeholders were activated to process the scene.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the recovered items likely belong to a resident of Tshiheni Village, who was reported missing in September 2022. A missing person’s enquiry was registered at Siloam SAPS at the time of her disappearance.
A family member attended the scene and positively identified the clothing and ID card as belonging to her missing mother. To conclusively establish the identity of the deceased, the skull and bones have been collected by the LCRC for formal DNA analysis.
Police confirm that investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the death.