A man believed to have been the last person to see a boy before he was badly mutilated two weeks ago was found dead in Phela village in North West province on Friday, police said.
Superintendent Pieter du Plessis said the 43-year-old was the last person to see Bahumi Mogorosi (13) before he was found mutilated in an apparent ritual attack in the village outside Rustenburg two weeks ago.
”He saw the boy gathering the cattle and saw him get on his bicycle,” he said.
The man was reported missing by his mother on August 16.
Du Plessis said an autopsy would be performed to determine the cause of death. This could not be immediately determined because the body had already started to decompose.
The man’s body was found about 500m from the cattle post where he worked and where he last saw Mogorosi.
Du Plessis said a group of 30 residents had gathered in the village on Saturday morning to raise their concerns about the incidents.
”They’ve gathered again [at about 1pm], about 500 people, and they are being addressed by the local mayor,” he said, adding that he did not know what the meeting was about.
On August 5, Mogorosi, from Phela village, was found with his tongue, genitals and lips removed. His right arm had also been cut off at the elbow.
He had been looking after his father’s cattle when he was attacked. After the attack, he crawled for about 150m and was then spotted by two men who came to his assistance.
His bicycle, blood-stained pants and shoes were found about 150m from the road.
He is at present in a stable condition in hospital. — Sapa