Residents of Ha-Khakhu-Makuleni village in the Nzhelele area were severely shocked with the recent gruesome discovery of human bones in the adjacent bushes.

The bones were discovered by a few grannies who had been collecting firewood in the village. The discovery of the bones follows an incident about two months ago, when a dog was found feeding from the leg of a human being.

The leg was then taken for forensic investigations, in order for DNA tests to be conducted. When the leg was discovered in October this year, the police looked for the remainder of the body in the surrounding bushes, but to no avail. They even used police dogs in the search.

W/O Edward Tharaga, spokesperson for the Siloam police, said that an inquest docket had been opened, following the discovery. He added that a person's clothes were found next to the bones. "We were accompanied by members of the community, who also witnessed the discovery," he said.

Residents of the area now state that they are cursed. They said that it was very strange that people were disappearing from the village. "What wrong have we done to deserve this?" they asked.

The 47-year-old Mr Gideon Mudau was reported missing in the village on 15 of August this year. A missing person’s file was opened and investigations into the matter are continuing. Members of the community, together with the police, launched a search in the area, following his disappearance.

Speculation is that the bones are those of Mr Mudau.

The DNA results were not yet available at the time of going to press.