Corpse stolen from Limpopo grave

A family member visiting a Limpopo cemetery to clean the gravesite of a loved one in preparation for an upcoming unveiling of the tombstone made the shock discovery that the grave was dug open and the corpse stolen.

Police spokesperson Brig Motlafela Mojapelo said officers at Mokwakwaila in the Mopani district have launched an investigation.

The alarm was raised by the family member on Sunday. “The police, upon arriving at the scene, discovered an open coffin with no corpse inside,” Mojapelo said.

“A preliminary probe conducted at the scene established that the suspect(s) accessed the graveyard by cutting the side fence. They then dug a hole next to the grave to gain access to the coffin and stole the corpse.”

Modike Phillemon Masedi died on January 15 2022 and was buried seven days later.

“The motive is unknown at this stage,” Mojapelo said.