The human bones reported having gone missing at a government mortuary on Friday, 19 March 2021 in Standerton have been found. The bones, which are subject to a police investigation into the murder of former police Captain, Johannes Engelbrecht (62) were found this afternoon in Newcastle, Kwazulu Natal Province.
Police were informed by their counterparts from the Department of Health, that the bones were mistakenly collected together with two corpses that were scheduled to be taken to Newcastle. The officials then alerted their colleagues in Standerton as soon as they realised that an error had occurred. As a result, it has now been established that the bones were never stolen. However, the investigation into the murder of Engelbrecht continues.
According to reports, Captain Engelbrecht was reported missing by his family in October 2020. Police launched a search for him then, without any success until Friday, 12 March 2021, when 26-year-old Mr. Sanele Msimang handed himself over to the Harrismith Police Station in the Free State Province.
Msimang informed police there, that he killed Captain Engelbrecht, who was his employer then at Standerton somewhere last year, and buried his remains in a shallow grave. He was then detained at Harrismith Police Station and arrangements were made that he be brought to Standerton to face charges for this act.
On Monday, 15 March 2021, Msimang arrived at Standerton Police Station and cooperated positively in all aspects of the investigation including pointing out where he buried the remains of his employer which were exhumed and taken to a state mortuary for further investigation.
A murder case was then opened hence Msimang was charged and appeared at the Standerton Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 18 March 2021. He also appeared before the same court on Tuesday, 23 March 2021, where the Magistrate ordered that his bail application be heard on Wednesday, 24 March 2021. Meanwhile, Msimang remains in custody.