Mpumalanga police are waiting for DNA results after partial human remains were found inside a crocodile in the Komati River near Komatipoort.
A search in Mpumalanga has taken a grim turn, with police now waiting for DNA results to confirm who the remains belong to after they were found inside a crocodile.
Misryoum reports that officers in the Komati River area, near Komatipoort, discovered partial human remains during a multi-day effort along the waterway. The findings were made on Saturday, after police tracked the crocodile believed to be connected to a missing businessman.
Police say they suspect the remains could be linked to a 59-year-old Gauteng man who went missing while attempting to cross a flooded low-lying bridge over the Komati River. His vehicle was swept away during the attempt and was later recovered.
The crocodile was shot and killed following monitoring by police and support teams, including SanParks and a private security company. Authorities say they had been observing the animal for several days, aided by drones and repeated checks of where it remained.
According to Misryoum, the diving unit’s Captain Pottie Potgieter said the team identified the crocodile they believed had eaten the man, based on its continued presence in the same location and the results of a post-mortem examination.. Investigators say the crocodile’s stomach contained multiple sets of different remains, along with flip-flop shoes.
This is the kind of case where identification can hinge on laboratory testing, not only on what is found at the scene, which is why DNA results are crucial.
The missing man’s family has been involved throughout the search, and Misryoum notes they have requested space as they deal with the trauma. Police also said there is evidence suggesting more than one person may have been affected in the broader area.
Officials pointed to the wider history of incidents at the same bridge. Misryoum reports that another event was recorded in December, when two soldiers were swept away while attempting to cross at the Komati River, with one body recovered soon after and partial remains found days later.
Meanwhile, Mpumalanga’s Community Safety and Security MEC, Jackie Macie, warned residents against attempting to cross the Komati River bridge when water levels are dangerous. Misryoum says she urged people to avoid the crossing point entirely and to use safer routes such as the N4 Road.
At the same time, authorities say plans are underway to consider what should happen with the bridge going forward. Misryoum also stresses that repeated incidents make the question of prevention impossible to ignore, especially after people continue to face life-threatening conditions at night.