Human remains found in Seraleng, mother arrested

By Nombulelo Konco

Shock and disbelief have gripped the community of Seraleng near Rustenburg following the arrest of a 43-year-old woman after police discovered human remains believed to be those of her missing teenage daughter buried in her yard.

On Thursday, October,30, Boitekong police reacted after a concerned family member reported suspicions regarding the teenager’s disappearance. The relative, who had not seen the teenager for several months, questioned the mother about her daughter’s whereabouts. The mother allegedly claimed that the girl was visiting her father’s family in Limpopo. However, after contacting the father’s relatives, they denied having seen her, prompting the family member to alert police.

During the investigation at their Seraleng home, the police noticed a section of the yard covered with a fresh concrete slab. Police forensic experts later exhumed human remains wrapped in a blanket, leading to the immediate arrest of the mother.

A relative who described herself as spiritually gifted told reporters that she had sensed “something was not right” and believed the missing girl’s remains were buried nearby, which led the family to involve authorities.

Residents of Seraleng expressed anger and sadness over the discovery, alleging that the mother often mistreated her daughter before she disappeared. One community member, who asked to remain anonymous, said:

“We kept asking her where the daughter was. Every time, she gave a different story, first Limpopo, then Pretoria, then university. We never thought it would end like this.”

Acting Provincial Commissioner Major General (Dr) Ryno Naidoo confirmed the arrest and commended the relative who reported the case.

“Police rely on active community participation to address crime. We appreciate the courage shown by the family member in reporting her concerns,” he said.

The police said an inquest docket has been opened at Boitekong Police Station and that forensic testing were underway to confirm the identity of the remains.