Mystery of missing pensioner
Wife, son arrested for his ‘murder’
The family of an Alberton, East Rand, man who was allegedly killed by his wife and son are pleading for his remains in order to bury him.
Ben Saohatse, 70, was allegedly killed in February but his body is yet to be found.
His wife Caroline Mashau and their youngest son Tebogo were arrested and have been charged with his murder.
It was not long after Saohatse disappeared that Tebogo was allegedly found covered in blood while driving his bakkie.
Masabata Saohatse, Ben’s sister, told Sowetan yesterday that the family was struggling to find closure as they contemplate what might have happened to him.
“We don’t have peace at the moment. His disappearance has been shrouded in mystery and confusion,” she said.
“Police have told us he was missing but we know that his wife and son were arrested and charged with murder.”
Masabata said she was agonising daily about finding her brother’s body to bury him.
She said it did not make sense that Saohatse’s wife and son were arrested for his murder but he was still missing.
“We want the truth to be revealed. We are not concerned about the criminal case that’s ongoing ... we just want to find our brother. If he is dead, we want to lay him to rest and get closure on this matter.”
Tebogo, 26, was allegedly found in February, days after his father’s disappearance, talking on his phone in a veld in Zonkizizwe near Katlehong.
Police claimed when they stopped to question him, he told them he was stuck and was calling for help. According to police, he appeared to have blood stains on his trousers but claimed that he had slaughtered a cow at home.
Suspecting foul play, officers went to search the vehicle he was driving but he ran away, dropping the cellphone.
Officers traced the vehicle to Saohatse’s home in Alberton, where they found his wife mopping up blood.
Police spokesman Kay Makhubele said Tebogo was later found and arrested. His mother was also arrested. He said the pair were in custody while investigations continue.
“If indeed they killed him, we just want them to give us back his body so we can bury him,” Masabata said.
The mother and son will appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on October 9.