Man’s body found in mortuary
TWENTY-TWO days after he was reported missing, a Newlands East man’s partially-recognisable body was found by his family in the Phoenix Mortuary.
Anamallay Rungasamy, 65, was allegedly killed in a hit-and-run on March 17, the same day he disappeared and his family reported him missing.
The Rungasamy’s family spokesperson, Dawn Gounden of Renegade Search and Rescue, said after weeks of searching, the family were finally able to get closure.
“Rungasamy was involved in a hitand-run near the Clare Road bridge just past Parlock, towards Clare Estate. Due to his injuries being extensive, he was unrecognisable when his body was recovered from the scene.
“When his family contacted Renegade Search and Rescue, we sent out a missing person's poster and joined his nieces and nephews to conduct searches,” Gounden said.
The SAPS Search and Rescue, K9 Units, and members of the Newlands Community Police Forum joined the search.
Members of Renegades Search and Rescue, a non-profit organisation, advised Rungasamy’s family to visit mortuaries and hospitals in the vicinity to look for him.
They also searched at the Phoenix, Pinetown and Park Rynie mortuaries.
Rungasamy’s family identified him by his clothes at the Phoenix Mortuary on April 7.
After waiting about a week for confirmation to claim his body from the state, Gounden said the Rungasamy family could finally lay him to rest.
“His funeral will be held on Saturday. His family are upset and traumatised due to the extent of his injuries. Sadly, he will have a sealed coffin. An inquest has been opened,” Gounden said.