The family members of Mr Victor Maluleke (40), who went missing in July last year, are still waiting for his remains to be released, so that he can be buried.
The bodies of a man and a woman were exhumed at different locations at Gogobole and Rathidili (Tshikhwani) in the Sinthumule area on Sunday, 29 January, after five members of the Western Vhukovhela security unit, who were arrested for terrorising the local communities, had allegedly confessed to killing these people and pointed out to the police the sites where they had buried their victims in shallow graves.
The family members of Maluleke say that, besides having to cope with the pain of having their loved one killed, they now have to live in suspense, not knowing whether the body is his. For almost three months now, the family have been waiting for the DNA test results that will confirm this.
The sister of Victor's, Ms Azwindini Maluleke, said that her brother had gone missing on the night of 7 July and had never been seen again. "Our hands are tied by technical glitches, and we cannot bury him, because he has not been identified via DNA," she said. She added that it was taking a toll on them, "as our lives have come to a complete halt".
She said the family members were getting frustrated, because they were not getting updates from the police. They were then told that the remains would go for DNA tests in Polokwane and since then they have been waiting for the results.
Azwindini said that they had been relieved when informed that the body had been found. "We hoped it would bring closure to the trauma we are facing. But it's been a long time now since my brother's remains have been lying in the mortuary."
The police spokesperson, Lt Col Malesela Ledwaba, said the remains of the bodies were sent for DNA tests to Polokwane. Ledwaba urged the family to be patient and said they would get the result soon after the completion of the tests.