WHEN murdered Zinhle Nxumalo’s body was found, her head and legs were missing
And she was buried without them!
But Zinhle’s family will find closure. The People’s Paper has helped to have her head, which had been sent to Wits University for forensic investigation, delivered to her family.
Her legs have still not been found.
Daily Sun reported on 7 April how Zinhle (29), from Volksrust in Mpumalanga, was found murdered in Katlehong in May. Her killer chopped off both her legs and head before dumping the body.
Zinhle was due to testify in court against a man who viciously assaulted her a month earlier. The case has since been dismissed and the man set free.
She had been missing for a month when her body was found. Then in November, a passerby stumbled on a decomposed head not far from where her body was found. Although her legs were still missing, Zinhle’s family was relieved to be able to give her a dignified burial.
But when they went to the mortuary to fetch the body, they were horrified to find that the head was missing again.
Zinhle’s uncle, Siphiwe Nxumalo, said the mortuary manager told them a doctor who was part of the forensic team conducting DNA tests had taken the head to Wits University.
“We have been speaking to the mortuary for months, begging them to return Zinhle’s head, but no one seemed interested in helping us,’ said Siphiwe.
“We had no choice but to contact Daily Sun.”
Last week, Zinhle’s head was returned to the family, who already have an exhumation order and will be burying the head along with her remains.
Gauteng Department of Health spokesman Khutso Rabothatha said the head was taken to Wits for a forensic investigation.
“The delay was caused by the fact that delivery was outside the province of Gauteng,” he said.
“We regret the delay.”
