{"id":295355,"date":"2026-01-13T14:17:43","date_gmt":"2026-01-13T12:17:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/?p=295355"},"modified":"2026-01-13T14:17:45","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T12:17:45","slug":"decomposing-body-discovered-during-kouga-wildfire-emergency-response","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/kougaexpress\/decomposing-body-discovered-during-kouga-wildfire-emergency-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Decomposing body discovered during Kouga wildfire emergency response"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HUMANSDORP <\/strong>– While firefighting operations were largely successful during widespread wildfires in the Kouga region, which began earlier this month<\/a>, the emergency response took a tragic turn when a body was discovered during the firefighting efforts on 9 January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana, on 9 January at 20:30, firefighters and community members battling rapidly spreading fires in the Kouga region discovered a decomposed body on a farm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It is alleged the body was found burning at the scene,” said Gantana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said that the identification of the deceased forms part of the ongoing investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Police are also investigating a possible link to a missing persons report filed on 30 December 2025 for a 63-year-old man, who was last seen near the Zwartenboch Golf Course in Humansdorp on 29 December 2025,” said Gantana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said that the investigation continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ALSO READ<\/strong>: Water bomber deployed as fires continue across Kouga region<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Firefighting operations were successful during Kouga wildfires, but the emergency response took a tragic turn when a body was discovered on 9 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