Two health officials, Jabulani Sam Mnguni, 45, and Pascal Mandla Gininda, 49, were arrested on Sunday and have since appeared in the Eerstehoek Magistrate's Court. The duo have been suspended after they were allegedly found in possession of human body parts, the Mpumalanga health department said on Wednesday. The two officials were stationed at the Ermelo Hospital and the Lothair Clinic, respectively. Mpumalanga Health MEC, Sasekani Manzini, expressed shock and dismay regarding the incident. “We are very shocked and dismayed at the criminal activities that the two officials have allegedly been involved with. Such dehumanising acts are indeed barbaric and as a department we do not condone such illegal activities. We shall allow the law to take its course while we, as a department, conduct our own internal investigation. For now, we have suspended the two officials to allow the SAPS to conduct their investigation without any interference,” said Manzini in a statement.

Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Leonard Hlathi, said their arrest follows an intelligence operation. “Their arrest spirals from an intelligence-driven operation which prompted police to follow up on information regarding a red sedan which was on its way to Elukwatini with two occupants conveying human body parts,” Hlathi said. The suspects were nabbed at the Lochiel-Nhlazatshe intersection. Police thoroughly searched the vehicle and discovered a leg, placenta, and a knee that was separately collected from a house. According to Hlathi, a third suspect, aged 45, will join the two on July 15 during their court appearance. The trio were remanded in custody when they appeared before the Eerstehoek Magistrate's Court.