- Human remains were found on the lower slopes of Devil’s Peak, believed to be that of missing Kuils River event organiser Gerhard Naude, who disappeared in December.
- The remains were discovered with personal items, including a cellphone, car keys, and an ID book, but police have not yet confirmed the identity.
- The case is under investigation, with authorities awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
Human remains found on the lower slopes of Devil’s Peak, in the area above Woodstock on Thursday 17 October, could be that of Kuils River event organiser Gerhard Naude (49), who went missing in December last year.
According to confidential information received by TygerBurger the remains discovered had denim shorts on with an ID book, in which the first name of the deceased was noted when it was opened by Sanpark Rangers.
His cellphone and car keys were also found in his pocket.
Police were called to the scene after the body was discovered by Table Mountain Park Rangers after 14:00.The sources said the remains were discovered half-buried in dried mud approximately 20 m from a jeep track frequented daily by hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers.
READ | Desperate search for the missing event organiser from Kuils River continues
The question that arises to many concerned parties is why a decomposing body so close to the path would not have attracted some attention, believing that the body was buried.
Police did not at this stage confirm the identity of the deceased nor whether foul play was suspected.
Spokesperson for provincial police Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi told TygerBurger that the circumstances surrounding this incident were still under investigation.
“The remains recovered were referred to pathology services,” he said. “This body is that of an unidentified human being. An autopsy will determine the cause of death. Woodstock police registered an inquest for further investigation.”
Missing
Naude was reported missing in Brackenfell in early December after going missing on 2 December. He was last seen by friends and colleagues between 10:00 and 14:30 on that day wearing a short-sleeved black-and-white check short and denim shorts.
His father Gert, who had flown down from Pretoria to assist in the search in December, at the time told TygerBurger that Naude had left a function venue in Zevenwacht, where he had a wedding the previous evening, that morning.
“He had the venue cleaned up and phoned his mother to say he was going home to feed his dogs,” he related in an interview.
“He left again later that day, telling his housemate he had a party on in Woodstock. Since then he has not been seen again.”
Having not heard from him by Sunday (3 December), Naude’s mother Beulah tried to contact him.
“He phoned us every day, and we became concerned when we could not get hold of him. By Tuesday we started contacting his friends and colleagues, who also had not seen him, which is when we reported him missing. We know Gerhard would never have abandoned his pets or left them alone for this long. He would always get a pet sitter,” Gert said.
“I later found out he had contacted one of his friends on the Sunday telling him his car had broken down and he was now busy walking.
The police found his car, a black Mercedes SLK in Woodstock on Wednesday.
“We can’t believe this has happened. It is very hard on his mom and me, and we drive around the peninsula aimlessly in hopes of seeing him somewhere.”
TygerBurger sadly learned that Gert had taken his own life five days before the discovery of the remains.
