Have cannibals eaten missing persons?

SINCE the arrest of five men for possession of human body parts and murder, many Estcourt residents have reported missing relatives and friends to police for fear there could be more victims.

One of the suspects, Nino “Mkhonyovu” Mbatha, a traditional healer, allegedly walked into the Estcourt police station and said he was “tired of eating human flesh” and produced a human leg and hand to support his claim.

Thembi Khoza, whose 17-year-old daughter Minenhle has been missing for three weeks, feared the worst.

DNA samples were taken from human remains found in Mbatha’s home to check if they matched the daughter’s. Khoza said her daughter left their Shayamoya home to visit a relative for a few days, but never returned.

“We began searching for her and heard that she had been spotted in town with a man known to her.

“However, when we confronted the man, he said my daughter had left about four days ago and he did not know her whereabouts,

“Police took us to another deserted house to search. We found another man who too claimed that my daughter was last seen with another guy. I kept on hoping she would come back home.”

She now fears the worst after hearing about the suspected cannibals in the area. “Not knowing what happened to her is overwhelming but I haven’t lost hope of finding her alive,” she said.

Not far from Khoza’s house, a family are mourning their daughter, Zanele Hlatshwayo, 25, who was allegedly murdered. It is alleged that Hlatshwayo’s clothing and bag were found at Mbatha’s house during a police search.

Police spokesperson Thembeka Mbhele appealed to members of the community who had missing relatives to come forward.

“Several families have come forward, suspecting that the deceased may be their relative. We have taken DNA samples from these families to do comparisons.

“At this stage, the deceased has not been identified,” said Mbhele.