Decomposed human remains have been discovered in dense vegetation near the M4 Leo Boyd Highway in uMhlanga on Monday.
The discovery was made by road workers who were carrying out routine electrical maintenance along the highway, between the Sibaya off-ramp and Umhlanga Rocks Drive.
Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) spokesperson Prem Balram said the workers spotted what appeared to be a human body approximately 200 metres from the roadside and alerted emergency services.
A reaction officer entered the thick vegetation to investigate and discovered the decomposing remains.
Balram said the body was in an advanced stage of decomposition, making it difficult to immediately establish the deceased's gender, race or identity.
A purple sling bag and other items were also found near the remains.
Reaction officers subsequently cordoned off the scene.
The circumstances surrounding the death remain unknown, and the identity of the deceased has yet to be established.
Police are yet to comment on the discovery.