By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA – DNA tests have confirmed that human remains found in the Metsimatsho Mountains are those of Katleho Motsoeneng, who disappeared three years ago after leaving home for an initiation school.
Katleho was last seen in December 2022 when a group of friends fetched him from his home in Makwane. He never returned.
His family has welcomed the confirmation but says justice remains elusive.
Family spokesperson and grandfather, Derk Motsoeneng, said the results validate what they have long believed – that Katleho was killed.
However, he criticised the investigation, questioning why those last seen with the teenager have not been arrested or fully questioned.
“We welcome the DNA results because they confirm what we have been saying all along – our son was brutally killed. The people who took him from home must be questioned and must tell us where the rest of his body is,” he said.
A shepherd discovered a skull, two bones, a tracksuit top and a necklace in April 2025. The remains were sent for forensic testing, which has now positively identified them as Katleho’s.
The family says it is devastated that only partial remains have been recovered. They intend to proceed with a dignified burial but vow to continue demanding answers and accountability.
