A grieving father from Hatsalatladi village is devastated after discovering that his missing son had been buried as an unidentified person in a foreign cemetery.
Now, Michael Legae (70) fears that authorities may have to exhume his son’s remains in order to bring him home. He feels his son's soul will not rest until it is brought home.
The family will also not heal properly when his remains are so far.
Legae’s son, Tlholego Podi, had been living in Kanye but occasionally visited Hatsalatladi. Months had passed since the family last saw him.
In November last year, they tried calling him, but his phone went unanswered. At first, they assumed it was a network or phone issue and did not think much of it.
However, as days turned into weeks, their worry grew.
They reported his disappearance to the police, only to be met with shocking news. Authorities informed them that, days earlier, they had discovered a decomposed body of a man hanging from a tree. With no way to identify him at the time, they proceeded with burial.
- DNA Testing to Confirm Identity
Now, months later, Legae and his family are left in agony, awaiting DNA results to confirm their worst fears.
“They came recently to collect blood samples and told us they would have answers in a few weeks,” Legae told The Midweek Sun.
“Our family is going through an incredibly difficult time. We never imagined that our son would come home in a coffin, let alone as just bones.”
For Legae, the grief is compounded by suspicions surrounding his son’s death. He strongly believes that his son did not take his own life.
“There were tensions over the custody of my grandson. I do not believe he committed suicide. I suspect certain people had something to do with his death,” the heartbroken father said.
- Police Confirm Murder Investigation
Mogomotsi Matlapeng, Station Commander at Sejelo Police in Kanye, confirmed that they found a man’s decomposed body hanging from a tree in December. Unable to establish his identity, they buried him at Selokolela Cemetery.
However, further investigations later revealed that the case was not a suicide but a murder. Police have since arrested three suspects believed to be responsible for the man’s death.
Matlapeng confirmed that DNA testing has been conducted to determine the victim’s identity. The family is still waiting for a full report, which will also serve as evidence in court.
“We are in the process of finalising our investigation. Once DNA results are confirmed, we will inform the family and proceed accordingly,” Matlapeng stated.
- Grief and Unanswered Questions
Legae and his family are now left in limbo, grappling with the harsh reality that their son may have been buried far from home without a proper farewell.
“This is a painful situation. A parent should never have to go through this. We deserve the truth, and we want justice for our son,” Legae said.
As the police continue their investigation, the family remains hopeful that answers will come soon. But for now, they are waiting for confirmation, closure, and a chance to bring their son home.
Now, Michael Legae (70) fears that authorities may have to exhume his son’s remains in order to bring him home. He feels his son's soul will not rest until it is brought home.
The family will also not heal properly when his remains are so far.
Legae’s son, Tlholego Podi, had been living in Kanye but occasionally visited Hatsalatladi. Months had passed since the family last saw him.
In November last year, they tried calling him, but his phone went unanswered. At first, they assumed it was a network or phone issue and did not think much of it.
However, as days turned into weeks, their worry grew.
They reported his disappearance to the police, only to be met with shocking news. Authorities informed them that, days earlier, they had discovered a decomposed body of a man hanging from a tree. With no way to identify him at the time, they proceeded with burial.
- DNA Testing to Confirm Identity
Now, months later, Legae and his family are left in agony, awaiting DNA results to confirm their worst fears.
“They came recently to collect blood samples and told us they would have answers in a few weeks,” Legae told The Midweek Sun.
“Our family is going through an incredibly difficult time. We never imagined that our son would come home in a coffin, let alone as just bones.”
For Legae, the grief is compounded by suspicions surrounding his son’s death. He strongly believes that his son did not take his own life.
“There were tensions over the custody of my grandson. I do not believe he committed suicide. I suspect certain people had something to do with his death,” the heartbroken father said.
- Police Confirm Murder Investigation
Mogomotsi Matlapeng, Station Commander at Sejelo Police in Kanye, confirmed that they found a man’s decomposed body hanging from a tree in December. Unable to establish his identity, they buried him at Selokolela Cemetery.
However, further investigations later revealed that the case was not a suicide but a murder. Police have since arrested three suspects believed to be responsible for the man’s death.
Matlapeng confirmed that DNA testing has been conducted to determine the victim’s identity. The family is still waiting for a full report, which will also serve as evidence in court.
“We are in the process of finalising our investigation. Once DNA results are confirmed, we will inform the family and proceed accordingly,” Matlapeng stated.
- Grief and Unanswered Questions
Legae and his family are now left in limbo, grappling with the harsh reality that their son may have been buried far from home without a proper farewell.
“This is a painful situation. A parent should never have to go through this. We deserve the truth, and we want justice for our son,” Legae said.
As the police continue their investigation, the family remains hopeful that answers will come soon. But for now, they are waiting for confirmation, closure, and a chance to bring their son home.
