BETHAL POLICE APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE IN TRACING FAMILY OF DECEASED HOMELESS MAN
Although the deceased initially remained unidentified, investigators, with assistance from the Department of Home Affairs, managed to retrieve fingerprints from his right hand. The results revealed the man’s identity as Zikode Petrus Zwane, born on 16 May 1957. His left-hand fingerprints were unusable due to damage.
EZOMPHAKATHI
BETHAL – 18 AUGUST 2025 – Police in Bethal, working with the local Forensic Pathology Service, are appealing to the public to help trace the family of a homeless man who was found deceased in June. His body has been kept at the Bethal government mortuary since then.
According to authorities, police received a report on Sunday, 29 June 2025, about a man lying motionless on Damval Street. Emergency services and forensic experts were immediately summoned to the scene, where the man was declared dead by Nompilo Mohale, an Emergency Care Practitioner from Bethal EMS. His body was later transported to the government mortuary by Forensic Pathologist Miss Nomasonto Nkumane.
Although the deceased initially remained unidentified, investigators, with assistance from the Department of Home Affairs, managed to retrieve fingerprints from his right hand. The results revealed the man’s identity as Zikode Petrus Zwane, born on 16 May 1957. His left-hand fingerprints were unusable due to damage.
Police are now urging members of the public to assist in locating Zwane’s relatives.
Anyone with information is requested to contact Detective Warrant Officer Andre Henn at 060 802 2876, or call the SAPS Crime Stop line on 08600 10111. Tips can also be submitted via the MySAPS App. All information will be treated with strict confidentiality, and callers may choose to remain anonymous.
Picture: For illustration purposes ONLY!