An elderly Hanover Park mother says she’s been waiting since February for forensic evidence before she can finally lay her 54-year-old son to rest.
Maria de Bruin, said she got a call on 15 February saying that her son Jonathan’s body was found under the Wetton bridge but she still does not know what happened to him and the body has not yet been released.
“Jonathan was not living at home for many years and was staying on the street because that was the life he chose,” says the mom.
“He managed to get close to a family there that would look after him and give him food but they went away for the weekend in February and when they got back the Monday, they found his body laying on the field.”
Maria says they went to the morgue the next day to identify the body.
“My daughter came out crying soon after going in.
“She said that the face was so badly decomposed from lying out in the sun that she could not stand to see her brother like that.
“Only the forensic tests can tell us what he died from and when he actually passed away but we are waiting for the results.
“His funeral policy is all paid up but we cannot say goodbye to him until this whole mess is sorted out.”
Maria said she has been in and out of Lansdowne Police Station for answers but she’s told that the lab is backlogged.
SAPS’ Joseph Swartbooi advised the family to keep in contact with the station until an answer can be given.