JERUSALEM – The family of Ms Josephine Masuku seeks answers following her death, after they frantically searched for her for weeks. Her clothing was found lying in the veld next to a river, which led to the discovery of her body last Friday.
According to the deceased’s sister, Ms Norah Masuku, her sister insisted that she give her her ID on the evening of Good Friday and told her she would be leaving the following day, not disclosing the destination. Masuku said she refused to give it to her, but the next morning she was not at home.
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“When we woke up, she was nowhere to be found and I told my children to ask around. I was told she was seen at Mshadza Police Station threatening to open a case against people who she claimed were harassing her. She did not return home. I later learned she had gone to sleep at a relative’s place nearby,” she related.
Another family member, Mpho Maphosa, said the relatives who the deceased reportedly visited said Josephine left their house to help her son. She had apparently gone to where he, Sidney Mabuza, and his partner stayed, to intervene in a fight they were having.
“Her disappearance had the family worried because she was not one to stay away from home for many days. We searched for her with the community’s assistance until last Friday.
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“That is where we located her body. Her sister recognised the shoes, as she had left wearing them. It was clear by the stench that she had died. It was heartbreaking to see her lying like that in the water,” Maphosa said.
The family is awaiting the post-mortem results from Themba Hospital that will determine the cause of her death.
They are pleading with anyone who may have information that could lead to the arrest of suspects to come forward.
Sergeant Naniki Nonyana of Masoyi Police Station said the deceased’s family identified the body and a case of inquest has been opened. The post-mortem will reveal the cause of death and no arrests have been made.
