KwaZulu-Natal police have taken two men in for questioning following the discovery of skeletal remains at a dumping site in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban.
The shocking find was made on Monday night when community members noticed a man unloading what appeared to be bags of soil or dirt at the site. Upon closer inspection, the contents were found to include human skeletal remains.
The man said he was unaware that the refuse bags contained human bones when he was asked to transport and dispose of them.
According to Vezi, he had been called to a cemetery in Clairwood, where a receptionist allegedly offered him R400 to dispose of approximately 15 refuse bags.
He explained that he initially attempted to take the bags to the Isipingo Waste Management facility but was reportedly turned away and advised to use a landfill site in Illovo instead.
However, considering the distance, he decided to leave the bags at a dumping site near his home before continuing with other work commitments.
It was only later that he learned the bags contained human remains.
"I got a call from a friend telling me I had disposed of human bones in the area," he said.
The discovery prompted an immediate response from local authorities, including the area councillor, traditional leadership, police and forensic investigators. Forensic teams attended the scene on Monday night and removed some of the bags, while additional remains were collected on Tuesday.
Witnesses reported that the bones appeared aged, with some of the remains still covered in sand, raising questions about their origin.
Police have launched an investigation and are working with the Clairwood cemetery to determine how the remains ended up in refuse bags and why they were removed from the site.
In response to inquiries, the cemetery receptionist reportedly stated that she was unsure where the individual normally responsible for disposing of such material usually took it and believed it could be discarded elsewhere.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the source of the bones or whether any laws were violated. Investigations are ongoing.
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed that an inquest docket will be opened as investigations continue.
"The circumstances surrounding the incident are being investigated," said Netshiunda.
Police have not yet established how the remains were removed from the cemetery or whether any criminal offences were committed. Investigators are working to determine the origin of the remains and the circumstances that led to their discovery at the dumping site.
No arrests have been made, and the two men remain under questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.