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which he had picked in a bushy area after mistaking it for scrap metal exploded in his hands, police said yesterday.
The South African police spokesperson for Limpopo, Colonel Ronel Otto said the incident occurred on Wednesday last week at about 10pm.
“According to our preliminary investigations, on the fateful day, two unknown men travelling in a pick up went to a scrap metal yard in Musina intending to sell the mortar bombs they were carrying in their vehicle.
“However, a worker at the scrap yard realised that the materials were dangerous and refused to buy them,” Col Otto said.
She said the two unknown men then left the scrap yard for a nearby bushy area where they discarded the objects in the field.
“Later in the day, the now deceased who was in the company of a friend and were walking in the area spotted the mortar bomb lying in the field and he picked it up thinking it was scrap metal.
“He fiddled with the mortar bomb and it exploded in his hands and he died on the spot,” Col Otto said.
The victim’s friend was not injured during the incident.
She said police have since deployed their team from the Explosives Unit to sweep the area and to ensure that all discarded mortars were recovered and destroyed.
“The origins of the mortars are still unknown and as police we are continuing with investigations,” said the police spokesperson.
She could not release the name of the dead Zimbabwean, saying they were yet to inform his next of kin.
The body was taken to Musina government mortuary.
Online Reporter