North West police have not ruled out murder after a body was uncovered in the bushes outside of Khuma township on Tuesday, 22 July 2025.
The body was found and seen by community members and motorists who are travelling from Khuma township and Potchefstroom to Orkney and Free State province.
Khuma police have launched an investigation after a body suspected to be illegal miner was found on the side of the road.
Police spokesperson Colonel Adele Myburgh said police opened an inquest docket after finding a body outside of Khuma. An inquest is a judicial inquiry to determine the cause and circumstances of a death, especially when it is sudden, unexpected, or suspicious.
In this case, the discovery of the body has prompted an investigation by the authorities to determine the events leading to the death.
A postmortem will be conducted to confirm the cause of death.
“At this stage I can just confirm that the body was found wrapped like they would do when Zama Zamas are found.”He was declared dead by emergency and medical rescue services. The person is unknown and the investigation will continue,” said Myburgh.
Thirty unidentified bodies of zama zamas have been buried in Stilfontein, North West, nearly a year after they died underground.
The men are believed to be part of a group of 78 illegal miners who died in tunnels during a major police crackdown called Operation Vala Umgodi.
Most of the bodies were found badly decomposed, and the cause of death is believed to be starvation.
