Teen's body found in shallow grave with heart, genitals missing

• The body of a teenager believed to be between 17 and 19-years-old was found in a shallow grave.
• The discovery was made by two men looking for firewood.
• Police said weapons suspected to have been used to kill the teenager and remove his body parts were found near the body.

Two men looking for firewood in the Free State made a gruesome discovery when they came across the body of a teenager with his heart and genitals missing.

The body had been buried in a shallow grave in an open field between Brentpark and Kroonstad Industrial area near the old power station. Weapons believed to have been used to kill him and to remove his body parts were allegedly found near the body.

Free State police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said the discovery was made on Sunday at about 10:45.

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He said the two men told police that they had gone to the area to search for firewood when they discovered a shallow grave.

"Whilst walking along the railway line they saw a branch of a tree lying down. They went to investigate and realised that the soil underneath is soft. They removed branches and the soil, then two plastic bags in succession and saw a human hand protruding from the ground. 

"The body of a male aged between 17 and 19 was exhumed on Monday 20 September."

Makhele said only experts could exhume a body, hence that was only done the next day.

"He was lying on his back in the shallow grave with an injury on the forehead and a cut wound on the stomach. On closer inspection, it was discovered that the heart and genitals were removed. Weapons suspected to have been used, a sharp instrument and sticks were found in that shallow grave near the body."

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Makhele said investigations on the scene further revealed that the deceased might have been killed and buried on Saturday night.

A case docket of murder has since been opened for further investigations.

"The suspects are still at large while the deceased is unknown at this stage.  Any person who might have valuable information may contact Lieutenant-Colonel Moremoholo at 082 372 1436 or call Crime Stop at 08600 10111, alternatively send information via MySAPS App for anonymous tip-off," said Makhele.