KOMATIPOORT – Before DNA results are available, police in Mpumalanga cannot confirm whether the human remains found inside a crocodile in the Komati River were those of a businessman who went missing.

“We suspect that the human remains are those of a missing person that police have been looking for, but it can only be confirmed once the DNA results are available. We can confirm that other items were found inside the crocodile, including shoes. But we cannot confirm who they belong to,” Colonel Mavela Masondo, police spokesperson, told NovaNews on 8 May.

The discovery of human remains inside a crocodile follows an extensive search operation in the Komati River in Komatipoort for a businessman, 59-year-old Gabriel Batista, who is believed to have been swept away by floodwaters.

The search for Batista commenced on Monday 27 April when his Ford Ranger became stuck on the flooded Komatipoort low-water bridge near the town’s golf club. It is suspected that he was swept away by the floodwater after climbing out of his bakkie and attempting to cross the bridge to the Border Country Inn. Batista owned the Border Country Inn and lived in Gauteng.

A week-long search followed, involving drones and helicopters.

Securing reptile from crocodile-invested river

On Saturday 2 May during the search, officials identified a group of crocodiles on a small island in the river and singled out one on the riverbank that appeared to have recently fed. This specific crocodile had a noticeably distended stomach, did not move around, and made no attempt to slip into the river despite the noise of the drones and helicopter.

With the search team comprising members of the Search and Rescue Unit of the South African Police Service (SAPS), National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NatJoint), South African National Parks (SANParks), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Securecon, and Port Management Committee, permission was granted to euthanise the crocodile.

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After it was shot, police Captain Johan “Pottie” Potgieter descended from a SANParks helicopter into the crocodile-infested river to secure the reptile. The crocodile was lying on an island where there was no other way to reach it except from the air. The presence of other crocodiles, hippos and rocks in the river made it too dangerous to use a boat or canoe to recover the crocodile.

“There were so many things that could go wrong, and the rope basically lowered me onto the snout of the crocodile, so I was rather hoping it really was properly dead,” Potgieter recounted.

“There were two crocodiles nearby watching as I slipped the harness around the waist of the dead crocodile and secured it under the front legs and tightened the strap.”

“But luckily, because of the noise of the helicopter and the downdraft blowing around, they moved away and didn’t bother me,” Potgieter said.

After securing it using a harness, the crocodile, which was 4.5 metres in length and weighed approximately 500 kilograms, was hoisted from the river and relocated for forensic examination.

Six pairs of shoes and more found in crocodile

Authorities described the process as a highly dangerous and complex operation. Potgieter said that whilst hanging on the rope, there was no way for him to communicate with the pilot. He was commended for his bravery. Potgieter is from the police’s Mpumalanga Provincial Search and Rescue Unit, which is responsible for search and rescue operations, including those in dangerous rivers, flooded areas, and dams.

A field necropsy was performed on the crocodile on Saturday afternoon. This was done by Potgieter’s wife, Joey, who is also a captain in the diving unit and has extensive experience in necropsy procedures. Six pairs of shoes were also found in its stomach, suggesting the crocodile may have been responsible for several deaths. However, it is said this alone does not prove multiple victims, since crocodiles can swallow a variety of objects moving in the water.

Apparently, two severed arms with hands still attached, half a rib cage, chest flesh and a ring attached to one of the hands were also found inside the crocodile. This was, however, not confirmed by police.

The acting provincial commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, has commended the team that worked tirelessly in difficult and dangerous conditions.