Grandmother hid grandson’s body under wheelbarrow

In a disturbing incident, 78-year-old Zanele Mazt Thobela allegedly concealed the death of her grandson for over 24 hours at Gottenburg Village in Mpumalanga.

According to Thobela’s account to Rio-Jab Media, she found her grandson dead on March 11, 2024, but slept overnight without informing anyone. The following day, she placed the body behind her house, covering it with a basin and a wheelbarrow.

“I put sand on the ground, sprinkled water, laid the child on a mealie bag, covered him with a blanket, basin, and wheelbarrow to protect the body from the sun,” Thobela explained, describing her makeshift mortuary arrangement.

The boy’s great-grandmother, Dolphina Mosoma, made the shocking discovery after receiving calls about the child’s death. Mosoma alleged that Thobela initially lied, claiming the mortuary had collected the body.

“She pointed at the wheelbarrow and basin, confirming the body was there,” Mosoma recounted. “Even ants had started eating the body.”

Mosoma accused Thobela of child neglect, stating the child died in the care of a 12-year-old due to Thobela’s drinking habits and leaving the children unattended.

Thobela acknowledged strained relations with her in-laws, offering it as an explanation for not informing them promptly about deaths in the past, including her husband’s passing in Cape Town.

The disabled child, aged between 5 and 6, was eventually buried in the yard by the local municipality. The cause of death remains unknown.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.