Bride teacher’s burnt body discovered
JUST days before she was due to marry, the body of a missing Mtubatuba woman was found burnt beyond recognition. Nomphumelelo Mthembu (38), a teacher at uMfolozi Primary School, was reported missing at KwaMsane SAPS on Saturday. On Monday, her BMW X1 was found by a herdsman, abandoned in the bushes along the R618 between Mtubatuba and St Lucia. Her burnt body was found in the nearby area on Tuesday after police, assisted by the SAPS K9 unit, launched a search.
A source close to the family said Mthembu was preparing to get married on Saturday.
“What I have heard is that on Saturday morning, she woke up and went to her car to pick up some important documents before leaving. She told her husband-to-be that she was going to her neighbour. When she failed to return, he tried to contact her on her cellphone but she did not answer,” said the source.
“He then tried to contact the hairdresser, but his fiancé was nowhere to be found.
“After that, he opened a missing person’s docket at KwaMsane SAPS. The two were preparing for their wedding which was scheduled to take place this weekend,” she said.
She said the deceased’s vehicle was found on Monday, but Mthembu was not there. After the vehicle was recovered, police launched a manhunt with the assistance of the K9 unit.
“The deceased’s body was found burnt beyond recognition. Her 20-year-old son identified her by her short, blonde hair, and her burnt cellphone and flip slops which were found lying next to her,” she said.
Attempts to speak with the deceased’s fiancé, Lindo Bhengu were fruitless as he said he was busy and asked to be contacted later.
Mtubatuba SAPS spokesperson Captain Justice Hlabisa said a case of murder was registered for investigation.
“We are waiting for the post-mortem result to determine the cause of death. The motive has not yet been established, and no arrest has yet been made,” said Hlabisa.
Murdered and abandoned along the R618 in the bushes days before her wedding