Son sought after body, parts found
Charred remains discovered near school believed to be those of missing KwaDwesi couple
Police are looking for a mentally challenged young man after a charred body and human remains – believed to be that of his missing parents – were found in the bushes near their home in KwaDwesi on Wednesday morning.
The discovery comes after a search for Mountain Sipho Taule, 60, and his wife, Jeanette, 55, who were reported missing on Tuesday afternoon.
Police found the charred remains on an informal dump site near the house and suspected human bones in a burnt-out area alongside the home shortly before 9am.
According to officials, the couple’s mentally handicapped son, Wonga, 22, is also missing and being sought by police.
The house, situated in Mti Street, is near the Tyhilulwazi Senior Secondary School in the same street.
The badly burnt body was found along the school fence about 70m from the house.
Family members at the scene said they had last communicated with the two on September 29, on WhatsApp, but declined to comment further. A neighbour and childhood friend of Wonga, who did not want to be named, expressed his shock at the gruesome murders.
He said that Wonga’s mental state had seemed to deteriorate over the past few weeks.
Of the parents, the neighbour said: “Although they were strict with their son, they were lovely people.
“The mother was a regular churchgoer [and] though the father did not go to church, he was a good person.”
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the alarm was raised after friends went to the police to ask for assistance as Wonga was not letting them into the house.
“On Tuesday, the area councillor contacted police after she was alerted by concerned residents about a couple who live at a house in the street but had not been seen for several days.
“Every time friends went to the house to speak to the couple, the son would refuse to let them inside,” Beetge said.
“Police were alerted at about 2.30pm. When they arrived at the house, the son was gone and the door locked.
“Officials forced the front door open. Dried blood stains were found inside but at that stage it was unclear if it was human blood or how it got there,” he said.
“By 4.30pm, a search was launched by residents as well as police. Detectives worked until the late hours of Tuesday night and visited all known locations as to where the family could be.”
The search was called off until first light on Wednesday when the remains were found.
“The K9 unit and several police members combed the bushy area opposite the house as well as the immediate surroundings.
“Shortly before 9am, a badly burnt body was located on an informal tip alongside the [Tyhilulwazi Senior Secondary] school,” Beetge said. “Forensic experts were called and during the investigation suspected human remains were found in a burnt area alongside the house.”
He said it appeared the person had been burnt at another location and dumped there.
“At this stage we are looking for the son,” he said.
Asked if the son was a suspect, Beetge said Wonga was a person of interest.
“He is mentally challenged so we are concerned about his wellbeing and also trying to establish what exactly transpired,” he said.
Beetge said the body and remains were thought to be those of Mountain and Jeanette.
“Only when forensic results come back will we know for sure. However, at this stage we suspect it is them,” he said.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Poppie Ngcakana on 083-651-9876.
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