An investigation is underway in Phoenix after a herdsman attending to cattle stumbled upon human skeletal remains along Lenham Drive on Tuesday, 13 October.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) officers arrived at the scene shortly after midday and descended an embankment, where they discovered a human skull and several scattered bones concealed in the grass.
According to RUSA, its Phoenix Operations Centre received a call from the herdsman reporting the discovery. Officers were immediately dispatched and arrived at the scene at approximately 12.26pm.
RUSA head Prem Balram confirmed the discovery, saying officers located the remains while searching the embankment following the report.
The circumstances surrounding the death remain unclear, and it could not immediately be established how long the remains had been at the location. The discovery has raised concerns among local residents, with one resident alleging that this was the third time human remains had been discovered in the area this year.
The resident further claimed that the grass on the embankment had previously been set alight and that the area was frequently visited by suspected drug users. The site is visible from nearby homes, adding to residents’ concerns about what may have occurred at the location.
Local police will investigate the matter further to establish the identity of the deceased and determine the cause of death.
