Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal — After five agonizing months of searching, the family of Nkululeko Nxumalo has finally received confirmation of what they feared most: he is no longer alive. What’s more devastating is learning that while they tirelessly searched, posted appeals, and opened a missing persons case, his body had been in a government mortuary all along.

A Tragic Discovery Through a Newspaper

On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, Nkululeko’s family came across an article published by the Ladysmith Herald, dated 22 January 2025. The report stated that an unknown man had been found severely injured along the R74 road and was rushed to Emmaus Hospital in Bergville, where he later died.

The article mentioned that the deceased had a tattoo on his stomach, which immediately caught the attention of Nkululeko’s aunt. She reached out to the Ladysmith Herald, and a representative from the newspaper arranged to meet her on Thursday, 26 June, to accompany the family to the hospital. When they arrived, hospital staff showed them photographs of the man. The painful truth was undeniable — it was Nkululeko.

According to the family, the images revealed horrific injuries: deep wounds that looked like bullet holes, extensive bruising, and signs that he had been severely beaten over a period of time. Even more shocking, they described how his face looked aged and unrecognizable — a clear indication of sustained abuse.

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Missing Since January — But in the Mortuary All Along

Nkululeko disappeared on the 14th or 15th of January 2025. The article from the Ladysmith Herald states that paramedics responded to a call on 22 January, after passersby alerted the police about an injured man on the roadside. Police were reportedly the first on the scene and contacted emergency services.

Despite this, no efforts were made to identify him through fingerprints, nor was any communication sent to surrounding police stations to check their missing persons registries. All this happened while Nkululeko’s mother and aunt were actively searching, visiting police stations, mortuaries, and hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal.

Buried Without the Family Knowing

On Thursday, 26 June, the family went to Emmaus Hospital to officially identify the body. But they were too late. They were told that Nkululeko had been buried as a pauper on 25 June, just one day before their arrival.

The burial, carried out by the government, happened without any attempt to trace his identity, despite his fingerprints being on record and an open missing person case.

The family is now faced with the painful process of exhumation, DNA testing, and reburial — a trauma that could have been avoided if systems had worked as they should.

“He Died Over a Grass-Cutting Machine”

Nkululeko’s disappearance began when he was reportedly accused of trying to sell a stolen machine that he was given by someone to sell for him — a simple grass-cutting tool. Eyewitnesses said he was beaten by local men, forced into a car, and later seen being picked up by a police van. He never returned home.

Now that the cause of death is being investigated as assault and murder, the family wants answers — and justice.

“He was beaten over a grass-cutting machine that he didnt steal, and everyone just let it happen. Now he’s gone. And they buried him like he didn’t matter,” said Nkululeko’s aunt through tears. “We want justice for what was done to him.”

The family believes that some individuals may have deliberately misled the investigation or withheld information to cover up what happened. The perpetrators are reportedly known in the community, yet no arrests have been made.

Systemic Failures That Demand Accountability

This case raises urgent questions:

• Why didn’t the police who found him check nearby missing persons cases?
• Why didn’t the hospital or the Department of Health attempt to identify him through fingerprints?
• Why wasn’t his family notified when a body matching his description was found?
• Why was he buried without exhausting efforts to find his loved ones?

Nkululeko’s story is not just about one family’s loss — it highlights a broken system that fails the vulnerable and disregards the grieving.

💬 What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case?
How can a person go missing, be found injured, and buried — all without their family being informed? This tragedy raises deep questions about our justice system, hospital protocols, and how missing persons cases are handled in South Africa. We want to hear from you.

🙏 Have you or someone you know experienced something similar?
If your family has ever had to deal with a missing person, poor police communication, or unanswered questions, your voice matters. Share your experience in the comments. Let’s support one another.

🕊️ Do you believe Nkululeko’s case has been treated fairly?
Many are asking: Could this have been prevented? If the system had worked, would his family have buried him with dignity instead of finding out through a newspaper? Tell us what you think below.

🗣️ Speak up: What needs to change to protect families like Nkululeko’s?
This isn’t just one family’s tragedy — it’s a wake-up call for all of us. From law enforcement to public hospitals, what must be done to stop this from happening again? Let your voice be heard in the comment section.

❤️ If this story moved you, please leave a message for Nkululeko’s family.
They may read your words. Even a few kind sentences of support can bring comfort in the middle of unimaginable pain.

A Call for Justice and Reform

The family is now demanding a full investigation, not only into the murder of Nkululeko Nxumalo but also into how his case was handled by police, hospital authorities, and government departments. They are calling on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the Department of Justice, and community leaders to intervene.

“If the system had worked, we would have buried him with dignity. Instead, we are being asked to dig him up,” said the aunt. “This can’t happen to another family.”

We encourage the public to share Nkululeko’s story. If you have any information, please contact Missing Person South Africa or your nearest police station. Every voice matters.

🕊️ Let us not fail another family like this.