A ‘foul smell’ coming from a local river, initially believed to be caused by discarded nappies, led to the tragic discovery of the body of a 22-year-old man from Mokopane, Limpopo, who had been missing since New Year’s Day.
Malose Samuel Kgafela, from Skilpad village in Mokamole, was last seen alive on New Year’s Day.
His body was discovered on Wednesday, January 7, at the Mmetlane River.
Kgafela disappeared after New Year’s Day celebrations, leaving his family anxious and desperately searching for answers.
Speaking to News, family spokesperson Mable Mashatole, 44, said January 1, was the last day the family saw him alive.
“The last time I saw him was on Thursday, January 1 2026, around 2pm at Makekeng village,” Mashatole said.
“He was with his friend. I was passing by in a car on my way to Mabula village.”
She said they exchanged brief greetings before she continued her journey.
“That was the last time I saw him alive,” she said.
Mashatole said the family did not initially panic when Kgafela failed to return home that evening, believing he may have stayed with relatives nearby.
However, concern grew when he did not return the following day.
“He is not someone who disappears for two days without coming home,” she said.
“By Saturday, January 3, we became worried.”
The family contacted relatives on Sunday, January 4, but no one had seen him.
Without a phone to trace him, Kgafela had lost his cellphone weeks earlier, the family turned to social media, posting his photo on a local community Facebook page.
Kgafela had returned home on December 15, 2025 after losing his phone in Boschkop, Pretoria, in Gauteng, where he was staying at due work.
The family also contacted people in Pretoria, fearing he may have returned there, but he was not found.
Mashatole said on Monday, January 5, family members and community volunteers began searching nearby villages, bushes and open areas.
“We were worried sick…Even if he were a teenager, it would have been painful. He was young but responsible, and we never imagined he would just disappear.”
She claimed Kgafela’s friend told the family they had separated earlier that day and that he had not seen him again.
After days of searching, a community member brought devastating news on Wednesday.
“A community member came to our home and told us about a strong, unbearable smell coming from the Mmetlane River,” Mashatole said.
“They thought it was from nappies people throw there, but the smell did not feel right.”
Given that Kgafela had been missing for several days, the family went to the river to investigate.
“As we walked closer, we first found his shoe,” Mashatole said. “That’s when we knew he was there.”
Police were called to the scene and later retrieved the body.
Mashatole said Kgafela was found still wearing the same clothes he had on the last time she saw him.
“It is painful. We never imagined we would find him dead. Until the last moment, we hoped we would find him alive,” she said with a heavy sigh.
She said Kgafela had recently started working and had been employed for about eight months.
He had plans to improve his family’s situation and support his sister. The siblings were orphans.
“He wanted to change things at home,” she said. “He was quiet, humble and very helpful.”
Mashatole described him as someone who avoided social activities and preferred helping around the house.
“He was very handy and always willing to help. Losing him like this has left us broken,” she said.
Limpopo police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed to News that Kgafela was reported missing on January 5, by Mashatole, at the Tinmyne police station.
“She alleged that the missing person was last seen on January 1, 2026 in the company of a friend,” Mashaba said.
Mashaba said that on Wednesday morning, community members continued searching surrounding bushes.
“At about 11.30am, a community member discovered a body inside the Mmetlane River after noticing a foul smell emanating from the water,” he said.
The community member alerted others and contacted Tinmyne SAPS. He said the police attended the scene.
Mashaba added that the Mogalakwena Mine Rescue Team was called in and successfully retrieved the body from the river.
“An inquest docket has been opened and investigations are continuing,” he said.
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