A Port Alfred family is worried that several big bones found buried in their township yard by construction workers on Wednesday afternoon could cause problems with superstitious neighbours.Even though the bones have been sent to the local state mortuary to determine whether they are human, 93-year-old Nemato homeowner Mxolisi Mbombela yesterday said he was more concerned about community reaction than the outcome of police tests. “They are cow and monkey bones,” Mbombela explained.
The grey-haired great-grandfather told the Daily Dispatch yesterday he had slaughtered several cows in his yard over the years, eaten the meat and buried the bones in his yard.
He also admitted he had once eaten a dead monkey that had been hit by a car and given to him by a neighbour – and also buried the bones.
During the Dispatch visit yesterday, Mbombela found another sizeable bone lying in the dirt that police had missed.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula said yesterday they had opened an inquest docket but did not suspect foul play.
“The bones were taken to the local state mortuary where they will be examined to determine whether they are human or animal.”
He said they would be sent to a police forensic lab for further testing if they were not animal bones.
Several bones were found in Mbombela’s front yard by a construction team laying sewer pipes.
Police were called and a crowd of neighbours gathered to watch.
The old man’s grandson Olwethu Mbombela said he was not worried when the workers called him to say they had found some bones buried.
“It did not surprise me, my grandfather has buried many cattle bones in the yard.
“I am more worried about possible rumours in the community about the bones being human and the impact it could have on my elderly grandparents’ health.”
The 20-year-old University of Fort Hare student said he hoped police would come back to the community soon after the test results come in, to tell them they were not human.
“We want them to make it very clear to everyone that they are animal bones.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Concern over bones found buried in yard
Even though the bones have been sent to the local state mortuary to determine whether they are human, 93-year-old Nemato homeowner Mxolisi Mbombela yesterday said he was more concerned about community reaction than the outcome of police tests. “They are cow and monkey bones,” Mbombela explained.
The grey-haired great-grandfather told the Daily Dispatch yesterday he had slaughtered several cows in his yard over the years, eaten the meat and buried the bones in his yard.
He also admitted he had once eaten a dead monkey that had been hit by a car and given to him by a neighbour – and also buried the bones.
During the Dispatch visit yesterday, Mbombela found another sizeable bone lying in the dirt that police had missed.
Police spokesman Lieutenant Luvuyo Mjekula said yesterday they had opened an inquest docket but did not suspect foul play.
“The bones were taken to the local state mortuary where they will be examined to determine whether they are human or animal.”
He said they would be sent to a police forensic lab for further testing if they were not animal bones.
Several bones were found in Mbombela’s front yard by a construction team laying sewer pipes.
Police were called and a crowd of neighbours gathered to watch.
The old man’s grandson Olwethu Mbombela said he was not worried when the workers called him to say they had found some bones buried.
“It did not surprise me, my grandfather has buried many cattle bones in the yard.
“I am more worried about possible rumours in the community about the bones being human and the impact it could have on my elderly grandparents’ health.”
The 20-year-old University of Fort Hare student said he hoped police would come back to the community soon after the test results come in, to tell them they were not human.
“We want them to make it very clear to everyone that they are animal bones.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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