Hillcrest – South African police have recovered the decomposed remains of a 74-year-old woman who was reported missing on 21 August 2026, from a rugged area near the Marianhill Toll Plaza in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal.
The body was spotted by a passerby in Giba Gorge, prompting a recovery operation involving the Durban Search and Rescue team, Durban K9 Search and Rescue and Search and Rescue South Africa (SARZA).
In a statement published on its Facebook page, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the rescue teams had to navigate “extremely dense bush and rocky terrain” to reach the remains.
“The body was recovered using a Rescue Stokes Basket and carried down the mountain to the roadside and handed over to members of Hillcrest SAPS,” the statement said.
The woman’s identity was confirmed by family members at the scene.
Police have since registered an inquest docket at Hillcrest Police Station to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
“An inquest docket has been registered at Hillcrest Police Station to determine the circumstances that led to the elderly lady’s death,” SAPS said.
The circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remain under investigation.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
