SA police nab 'head' man

Crime is a major concern in South Africa

Police in South Africa have arrested a man and seized a human head they say he was trying to sell for use in traditional medicine.

West Rand police say the head was that of a 52-year-old man whose headless corpse was discovered on Monday at his home in Krugersdorp, a town west of Johannesburg.

He had attempted to sell the head for 10,000 rand ($980)

Paula Nothnagel
Police Captain

The suspect has been charged with murder and will appear in court on Friday.

He was arrested at an abattoir in Krugersdorp during a sting operation on Wednesday, after police received information regarding a potential seller of body parts.

There is a thriving market for human body parts in many African countries, where they are used in traditional medicine.

This has led to a spate of so-called "Muti murders".

"Muti" is the Zulu word for medicine.

Stabbed

"A trap was set whereby a 23-year-old man was arrested. He had attempted to sell the head for 10,000 rand ($980) for muti purposes," Police Captain Paula Nothnagel said.

Mandela is involved in the fight against 'Muti murders'

Police say they believe the man stabbed his victim several times before decapitating him.

The head appears to have been cut off with a knife.

Last month, former South African President Nelson Mandela joined British detectives in a global appeal for help in solving the murder of a young boy whose torso was found in London's River Thames last year.