MAPHUNGANE – An 80-year-old man from Mhlabubovu, Maphungwane, was found dead in a forest, with residents suspecting he may have succumbed to the recent cold weather.
The deceased has been identified as Mefika Gamedze, a resident of Mhlabubovu Ekumeni at Maphungwane. His body was discovered at around 8am on Saturday morning at Emakhuleni Forest by Absalom Gamedze, who was searching for cattle accompanied by his grandchild. Absalom said they were approaching an old dam in the forest when they noticed what appeared to be a person lying on the ground.
“We thought he was asleep,” he said. He said they moved closer and realised that the person was dead, adding that the body was in such a poor state that it was difficult to recognise the deceased.
Absalom said there was a stack, believed to have belonged to the deceased, lying next to the body.
He said he immediately contacted the Maphungwane Indvuna Yenkhundla, who advised him to inform the police. Absalom said he then contacted the police, who instructed him to remain at the scene and guard the body against predators while waiting for their arrival.
When the police arrived, Absalom said they opened the stack and found several items inside, including a packet of Boxer cigarettes, an identity document (ID) and Mozambique bread, locally known as Liphawu.
He said he initially could not identify the deceased because of the condition of the body. However, Absalom said he recognised him after police produced his identification document. Absalom said Mefika had been living in Eswatini for many years after arriving in the country during the wars in Mozambique.
He explained that although Gamedze had originally come from Mozambique, he was a resident of Eswatini and had an identity document and a homestead in the country. Absalom said residents suspected that the elderly man could have died because of the cold front that affected the country from Tuesday to Thursday last week. He said Gamedze had left his home to attend the burial of his brother in Mozambique and had not returned. According to Absalom, Gamedze’s family became concerned about his whereabouts and began searching for him after contacting relatives in Mozambique. He said the relatives informed the family that Gamedze had left Mozambique on Tuesday.
“That is when the cold started in the country,” he said. Chief Police Information and Communication Officer Senior Superintendent Phindile Zwane confirmed the incident.
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