Police are investigating the death of an unidentified man whose body was discovered near Mashobote, close to Schoemansdal along the N4, on Wednesday morning, September 30.
The discovery comes a day after reports of gunfire in the area led to the closure of the N4 amid concerns that motorists could be caught in possible crossfire involving groups allegedly linked to illegal mining.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesperson Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, the body was discovered by a community member shortly after 07:00, who alerted the police.
“The Police in Ngodwana can confirm that a man’s body, whose identity is currently unknown, was discovered this morning, Wednesday September 30, after 07:00 at Mashobote area near Schoemansdal on the N4,” said Mdhluli.
He said the circumstances surrounding the man’s death and his identity were not known at this stage.
“A crime scene is currently active and stakeholders have been called in, including SAPS’s Forensic Services under Detective Services, who will process the scene and collect every available piece of evidence,” he said.
The discovery follows reports of a shootout near Mashobote on Tuesday September 29. Police responded to reports of gunfire, but found no suspects or evidence of an ongoing shooting when they arrived. “We were informed that there was a shoot-out and police responded to the area.
However, we could not find anything when we arrived. We suspect that the shooters fled the scene after seeing the police,” Mdhluli said. The reported gunfire resulted in the closure of the N4, a major route connecting Mbombela and Gauteng, as authorities sought to protect motorists travelling through the area.
Mdhluli said the circumstances surrounding the reported shooting remained unclear, including who was involved and what had triggered it. “We continue to monitor the area and hope to establish what the cause of the shoot-out was,” he said.
Later that afternoon, while police continued monitoring the area, officers recovered two live rounds of ammunition and an empty magazine believed to be for an AK-47 rifle.
The items were confiscated. Police said they could not rule out the possibility that the deceased may be linked to alleged illegal mining activities and the reported shooting.
However, this remains part of the ongoing investigation and has not been confirmed. The identity of the deceased will be established as investigations continue.
