Crocodile found with Crocs in its stomach may be linked to multiple deaths

SAPS says a crocodile believed to have eaten a missing man was euthanised in the Komati River after being tracked for days, with human remains later recovered during a post-mortem examination. The crocodile linked to a businessman’s death—found with several pairs of Crocs and flip-flops in its stomach—may also be tied to other fatalities, as investigators explore the possibility of multiple victims. Police reported that the animal was discovered with various items, including footwear, in the Komati River near Komatipoort.

IOL previously reported that human remains were discovered inside the crocodile in the Komati River near Komatipoort on Saturday, where police believe they may belong to a missing 59-year-old businessman. The man had been reported missing after his vehicle was found trapped at a low-lying bridge, prompting a week-long multi-agency search. Speaking to SABC on the sidelines, SAPS Captain Johan Potgieter said the crocodile had been tracked over several days, with emergency medical services (EMS) first spotting it from a helicopter in the same area for four consecutive days.

“So with our experience and with the training we’ve had, we identified a crocodile there that we were basically 100% sure had eaten the man that we are looking for,” Potgieter said. He said drone operations later confirmed the animal remained in the same location, after which the team made arrangements to euthanise it. “We then started to put in arrangements to euthanise it, which we managed to do,” he said.

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Potgieter said SANParks assisted with a helicopter, which airlifted him to the river scene. He explained that he entered the water to secure a sling around the crocodile so it could be lifted out.

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