Police have recovered the body of an unidentified man at Thaba Bosiu mountain in the Free State, near the KwaZulu-Natal border at Bergville. The grim discovery was made by local hunters on Tuesday, prompting a challenging retrieval operation involving police helicopters and search and rescue teams.
According to authorities, the body was found between slippery cliffs in a remote area approximately 8 kilometers from the nearest villages. The location was inaccessible by vehicle, requiring air support from Free State and Khaeng airwing pilots, who worked alongside the Namahadi police to extract the remains.
Poor weather conditions delayed the operation for two days, as heavy mist and difficult terrain hampered rescue efforts. Police confirmed that the deceased was wearing black and red pants with a camouflage top. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, with no visible injuries detected at the scene.
A postmortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death, while an inquest case has been opened for further investigation. The identity of the man remains unknown, and police are appealing to the public for assistance.
Anyone with information about a missing family member or details that could help identify the deceased is urged to contact their nearest police station.
