Hijacked mortuary vehicle recovered with corpse inside

The Eastern Cape health department confirmed that one of their forensic vehicles was hijacked with a female corpse still inside.

The department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the vehicle was hijacked near Kambi Village on the R61 on Monday evening and found near Mthatha, where it overturned.

Algoa FM reports that a female corpse was still inside the Ford Ranger-branded vehicle, which had a converted canopy. Kupelo said the driver told them that he was hijacked when he relieved himself on the side of the road.

Counselling will be offered to the driver.

“We are happy that no one was harmed in the incident and would like to call on anyone who might have knowledge of the car’s whereabouts to notify their nearest police station,” he said.

Circumstances surrounding the alleged hijacking are being investigated. A planned autopsy on the female corpse can now commence, Kupelo said.

Police spokesperson Captain Dineo Koena said the vehicle was reported stolen around 8 pm on Monday night, as it was transporting a body a one funeral parlour in Ngcobo to Mthatha Forensic Pathology.

Police have recovered the driver’s cellphone and wallet. Fingerprints have been lifted from the van.

(Compiled by Gopolang Moloko)

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