Police in Shakawe are investigating an incident in which a 75-year-old man of Nxamasere village was trampled to death by an elephant at Congo cattle post on Tuesday.
Shakawe Police Station Commander Superintendent Goitsemodimo Molapisi confirmed that they received the report from the deceased’s family on Wednesday morning at around 0830hours.
According to Molapisi, the deceased had reportedly called his son on the evening of that fateful day at around 1700hours to inform him that he was going to the farm, but will return the same evening. However, when it became late and the deceased was not yet back, family members are said to have at around 2200hrs gone to the farm to check on him.
Molapisi said upon reaching the farm the family saw his clothes scattered on the ground, but got scared to go any further and they retraced their steps back home. The following morning, the family went straight to the police station to report the matter, and the police immediately left for the scene with family members where they found the old man lying motionless on the ground with elephant foot prints around him.
The deceased was then rushed to JP Kavindama Hospital where he was certified dead. Molapisi said the body of the deceased is still to undergo a post mortem to confirm if indeed he was killed by an elephant or not. The Station Commander has since urged the public to be very vigilant when moving around the area as it is infested with many dangerous wild animals.
Meanwhile, Molapisi said they have also on Wednesday received a report of a missing person of Shaikarawe village. According to Molapisi, the 69 year old man was last seen on May 19th, after informing his family that he was going to cut some poles in the bush but never returned home since then. He said a search party has since been launched.
In another incident, Molapisi said they are also investigating a suspected suicide incident in which a 25-year-old man of Kgosing Ward in Gudigwa was found hanging from the roof rafters of his house on Monday.
The family members discovered the deceased in the morning as they had gone to check why he had not gotten out of the house. Molapisi said it is not known why the deceased might have decided to claim his life as he did not showing signs of distress.
