Grave Robber in Vanderbijlpark Arrested With Human Skull

Arrest shocks community

Residents of Vanderbijlpark are reeling after a man who claimed to be a sangoma from Tshepong was caught digging up graves and removing human remains. Security guards at the local cemetery confronted him on September 6 and found him holding a human skull.

Authorities confirmed he had been placing bones into a bag when stopped. His arrest has linked him to a string of grave disturbances reported in the region.

Pattern of grave thefts

Emfuleni Local Municipality spokesperson Makhosonke Sangweni revealed that this was not an isolated case. Since January, seven graves at Jackobskop Cemetery have been dug up. The most recent incident was reported a day before the Vanderbijlpark arrest.

The man allegedly admitted to being behind all seven cases, telling guards he used human body parts for muti in treating clients.

Charges pending

Police have opened a case, and the suspect now faces multiple charges. Vanderbijlpark SAPS had not officially confirmed his arrest at the time the news first broke.

Public reaction

The arrests have stirred strong emotions. On local community pages, residents expressed outrage, calling the acts “disgusting” and “a deep violation of families.” Others raised concerns about cemetery security, questioning how so many graves were disturbed without immediate detection.

Traditional healers in the region have also distanced themselves from the suspect. Several pointed out that legitimate practitioners do not rely on human remains, stressing that his actions damage the reputation of ancestral healing.

{Source: TheCitizen}

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