Mopani – A 38–year-old man, Mboi Lawrence Rakgoale who was reported missing from his Madawa village in the first week of August 2025, was found murdered and buried in a shallow grave behind an old house at Bordeaux Village Saturday August 30, 2025.

Spokesperson for the Limpopo SAPS Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the police received a phone call from one of the community members complaining about a stench coming out from the nearby bushes behind an old house. Upon arrival, police officers found residents already gathered approximately 50 metres away from the scene.

The police proceeded in the direction of where the stench came from and discovered a shallow grave swarmed by flies.

Said Mashaba: “We exhumed the grave and found a mutilated body of a man. The body was found with open wounds on his stomach, lying face up, and already in a state of decomposition.He was identified as Mboi Lawrence Rakgoale (38) of Madawa Village.”

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased had been reported missing on August 09, 2025 after mysteriously disappearing from his home. We have opened a murder case and our investigations are underway to arrest the perpetrators,” said Brig Mashaba.

The Provincial Commissioner of the South African Police Service in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe, has urged community members to work closely with the police in bringing the perpetrators to book.

“This brutal killing is deeply disturbing, and we call upon anyone with information to come forward. Working together with our communities is the only way we can ensure perpetrators of such heinous crimes are removed from society,” said Lt-Gen Hadebe.

“Members of the public having information that can assist in the investigation are urged to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Hudson Tshikovhi, on 082 319 9742, the Crime Stop number 08600 10111, their nearest police station, or submit information via the MySAPS App,” appealed Lieutenant General Hadebe.