The body of a 70-year-old man was found with his testicles and one arm missing, KwaZulu-Natal police said on Tuesday.
Umfolozi police spokesperson Captain Jabulani Mdletshe said Johannes Mchunu’s body was found on the banks of the Umfolozi River on Monday, a day after he went missing.
It is believed that he went to see an inyanga [traditional healer] on Sunday and never returned home.
”The family became worried when he did not return home and began searching the pathway he took to the inyanga’s home,” said Mdletshe.
A case was opened with the police and Mchunu’s eldest son Bongani continued the search with other community members on Monday.
”He found his dad’s body in a donga on the Umfolozi River bank … and Mchunu was already dead,” said Mdletshe.
He said the man had several wounds on his head which suggested that he had been hit with a sharp object.
”Mchunu’s arm was amputated and his testicles were sliced off … Both have not been found as yet.”
Umfolozi resident Ntokoza Thabethe said she had assisted in the search.
”It was horrible … That poor man’s arm and privates were sliced off while he was alive … he must have been in a lot of pain.”
She said Mchunu was a well-known and respected elder in the community.
”We know who did this. We have not been able to locate the inyanga and we are thinking of holding a kangaroo court soon,” she said.
Police suspect the killing may have been muti-related.
”At this stage, we don’t know whether Mchunu did arrive at the Inyanga’s home … if he did the inyanga may have been involved … but we are continuing with investigations,” said Mdletshe. – Sapa