ALLDAYS – The Far North police are urging the community to help them identify an unknown man who was found by the members of the South African Defence Force, wandering around the dense bush of Pontdrift near the Botswana border early in February.

Police spokesperson Captain Ailwei Mushavhanamadi said that they have been trying to establish the identity of the man, who seems to be mentally disturbed.

The station Commissioner of the Alldays police station where this man is kept, James Sadiki, said "Yayo", as they call him, was found barefoot and clothed in an old and torn jersey and short trousers. "His hair and nails were very long. He looked like a person who has been staying away from people for many years as he cannot speak properly," said Sadiki.

Sadiki, who disputed people's claims that "Yayo" was a zombie, said they cut his long hair and nails a week after he had arrived at the police station. They were going to take fingerprints and distribute photographs to get his real identity and full names, he said.

"Since he has been staying here, people have come to see him. He is a very kind and soft person who is approachable. He has improved a lot since he came. "Before, he could hardly move or respond when you spoke to him. Now we can communicate with him using sign language.

Meanwhile, the president of the Council of Traditional Healers of South Africa, Takalani Mathivha said "Yayo" was separated from other people and his family about twenty years ago. He said "Yayo" told him his name was Johannes Tshimedzi of Ha-Matsa, next to Nzhelele, in Venda. "He told me his mother was Marandela Tshimedzi. I do not agree with those who claim this man is a zombie, since he has his normal tongue and ears which are not cut like that of a zombie."

According to Mathivha, the man eats too much. "This man seems to be 39 or 40 year old and eats two full plates a day. He also drinks a lot of water. When he eats he does not stop unless you tell him to stop. This type of behaviour is called hysteria".

Mathivha also mentioned that Yayo speaks Venda mixed with Shona, but it seems as if he understands both the languages.

The only word that "Yayo" uttered during his interview with Mirror was A ndi zibi, a Shona expression which means, I don't know. These words seem to confirm. Mathivha claims that "Yayo" comes from the area along the Limpopo border. Mathivha also said it seems "Yayo" had spent about twenty years in the bush, where he was living on fruit.

Sadiki said they were hoping that someone would identify "Yayo". He said they would keep him at the station until he was claimed.