The body parts of PhilasandeShange who was murdered and mutilated three weeks ago has been recovered. Philasande (7) went missing while on his way to the tuckshop and his head and leg were found in the bushes in his village a few days later.
BODY PARTS
The family couldn't bury the boy for weeks without the rest of the parts. Philasande's other missing body parts were found at a nearby forest from his family home in Ntshawini in Stanger, KwaZulu Natal (KZN). When the family recovered the first two body parts, they also received text messages which said the boy was killed to teach the family a lesson. Another text demanded that the family leave the village. Ntombi Shange who is a family spokesperson told ZiMoja that they received a message where it stated where the other body parts were buried. "We followed the location that was given to us by the killer. We found all the remaining body parts inside a shallow grave. Although it is still hard to understand why Philasande was murdered in such a gruesome way. He was young and innocent, we will find closure once the person who did this is arrested," she said.
WAITING FOR DNA TESTS RESULTS
Ntombi said that the family will have to wait a few more weeks before they could bury Philasande as his body parts were taken for DNA testing. "Today I went to work after two weeks away, it is still hard especially when you are about to enter the family home. It all comes back. We believe that the person who did this is very close to us because every time we hold a meeting with a local councillor the killer texts us," she said.
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
KZN SAPS spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda confirmed the incident and that the other body parts were found on Wednesday. "Police in KwaDukuza have opened a case of murder following the discovery of human body parts in a stream in the bushes at the Ntshawini area on Sunday. The body parts are suspected to be of the seven-year-old boy who reportedly went missing on 5 January 2023.Investigations are underway to ascertain the identity of the recovered body parts as well as the possible cause of death," Netshiunda said.
