Missing Businessman: Human Remains Discovered Inside Captured Crocodile
Mbombela (Nelspruit) – Human remains were discovered within the intestine of a crocodile captured in the Komati River during the search for a missing 59-year-old businessman from Gauteng.
The missing man’s Ford Ranger was previously located stuck on a low-lying bridge in the flooded Komati River near Komatipoort.
Police spokesperson Colonel Mavela Masondo reported that the businessman had been unaccounted for for several days.
“After a week-long search for the missing businessman, a crocodile suspected of being involved in the disappearance was identified in the river,” Colonel Masondo stated on Saturday, 2 May 2026.
He mentioned that necessary approvals were obtained to euthanize the crocodile.
“It was during this process that the human remains were discovered and removed from the crocodile,” Colonel Masondo added.
“DNA testing will be conducted to determine if the remains belong to the businessman who was reported missing after his Ford Ranger was found entrapped in the low-lying bridge in the Komati River, Komatipoort.”
Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, acting provincial commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga, praised the team that searched for the missing businessman under challenging and perilous conditions.
The team included members from the SAPS Search and Rescue Unit, NatJoint, SANParks, Emergency Medical Services, Securecon, and the Port Management Committee.
“I commend the dedicated team that risked their lives to locate the missing individual,” Major General Mkhwanazi remarked.
“I recognize the difficulties they faced, yet they persisted, even when confronted with hazardous conditions.”
In addition to the human remains, the postmortem conducted on the crocodile revealed shoes and slippers of various sizes in its stomach, indicating it may have consumed additional victims.