NAMAHADI, FREE STATE – Following the discovery of the body of an unknown male person, a search-and-rescue operation was successfully conducted at the Thaba Bosiu mountains in the Free State, near the KwaZulu-Natal border.
The body was discovered by local hunters between slippery cliffs on Tuesday, 5 August. Helicopters of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and members of the Sasolburg Search and Rescue Unit were deployed to retrieve the body.
The operation was delayed for two days due to poor weather conditions, making it difficult to manoeuvre in the mountainous terrain. The scene, located approximately eight kilometres from the nearest villages, was inaccessible to vehicles, says Warrant Officer Mmako Mophiring, police spokesperson.
The Free State Airwing Unit was activated for retrieval, with its female chief helicopter pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Kgothatso Khunou, accompanied by crew members Sergeant Campbell, and Constable Tshabalala. However, due to the weather conditions – including mist – and the type of helicopter initially available, they were unable to reach the site.
Khunou contacted colleagues from the Gauteng Airwing Unit, who arranged for a more suitable helicopter for the terrain.
On Friday, 8 August, at around 11:00, the team returned to the mountain with the Sasolburg Search and Rescue Unit. By approximately 15:00, the body of a male, estimated to be between 25 and 35 years old, was recovered. The deceased was dressed in black and red track pants labeled “LS” in white and red, along with a camouflage top. The body was in an advanced stage of decomposition, and no visible injuries were noted.
A post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death, and an inquest case is under investigation. The identity of the deceased remains unknown.
- Anyone who may have lost a family member or has information that could assist in identifying the deceased is urged to contact the Namahadi Police Station. Call Detective Warrant Officer Nhlapo on 078 116 1241 or Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
Khunou first female chief helicopter pilot in the SAPS Airwing Free State
Lieutenant Colonel Kgothatso Khunou is the first female chief helicopter pilot in the SAPS Airwing Free State. In 2024, she won the prestigious Forty Under 40 Award in the aviation category.
She was the first female chief helicopter pilot attached to the South African Police Service Airwing in the Free State.
Her aviation career began in 2010, and by 2012 she had earned her commercial pilot’s license. In 2014, she joined the SAPS and has since been involved in numerous flying operations. Khunou also holds commercial, business, and private pilot licenses, as well as other qualifications, including that of a biotechnologist.
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