OUDTSHOORN NEWS - The discovery of human remains during a military training exercise outside Oudtshoorn last week has raised questions about the identity of the deceased and whether the remains could be linked to any outstanding missing person cases.
The remains were discovered in an open field along the Calitzdorp road outside Oudtshoorn on Tuesday 4 August.
According to information received, some soldiers of the Oudtshoorn Infantry School had made the discovery while conducting a training exercise.
There were also reports that the remains were removed from the scene by helicopter. This could not be independently confirmed.
The Southern Cape Police's spokesperson, Warrant Officer Chris Spies, confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened. "According to the information available at this stage, the police were summoned to the scene after the remains were discovered. Upon their arrival, the officers were directed to the area where the human remains were found. The identity of the deceased has not yet been established," said Spies.
Siphiwe Dlamini, head of communications for the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), said the remains were discovered during a routine navigation training exercise. "The discovery was immediately reported and verified as human remains. The police and pathologists attended the scene. The remains were later removed and the scene was cleared before midnight."
According to him, investigations by the police and pathology services are under way.
Questions remain unanswered
The discovery has prompted speculation in the community about whether the remains could be those of former soldier Isak 'Zulu' Thompson, who had disappeared while training at the Oudtshoorn Infantry School on 19 July 2023.
Thompson was reported missing while undergoing training at the military facility. At the time of his disappearance, he was reportedly carrying an R4 rifle.
There is, however, currently no official confirmation linking Thompson to the remains discovered last week.
Oudtshoorn Courant asked the SANDF a number of questions regarding the discovery, including whether the remains were found within military property and whether the SANDF was aware of the speculation surrounding Thompson.
The SANDF's response did not address these specific questions and instead confirmed that the remains had been discovered during a routine navigation exercise, and repeated that police and pathology investigations were under way.
Until forensic identification procedures have been completed, any link between the remains and Thompson remains unconfirmed.
Family left with unanswered questions
According to Glenita Gelant (35), Thompson's girlfriend, no one has made any contact with them since the remains were discovered.
"Nothing about Isak's disappearance makes sense. We last saw him on the Sunday when we dropped him off at the army base. The next thing we heard was that he had gone missing during the night. How does a grown man, with a passion for his job, his family and his children, just disappear?" Gelant said.
Since the discovery last week, those who knew and loved Thompson have been left wondering whether the remains could finally provide answers about what happened to him.
Glenita Gelant. Photo: Louise Mouton
"Almost everyone who knew and loved him is asking whether it is Zulu who was found," Gelant said.
For Thompson's loved ones, the discovery has reopened old wounds while raising the possibility that a three year-long mystery could finally be brought to a close.
"Especially for his 80-year-old mother, who only wants her son to come home. How do you begin to explain the pain she is experiencing, not knowing what happened to her son or why?"
Gelant said that, if the remains discovered are identified as Thompson's, the family's greatest wish is to finally bring him home and give him the farewell he deserves.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
