A mother from the Eastern Cape is desperately seeking help after she was reportedly denied the chance to view her missing daughter’s body at the Butterworth forensic pathology service. Busisiwe Mvimbani, whose daughter Happy has been missing since 2022, posted a video on social media, claiming that despite following every lead, she was not allowed to identify her child’s body. She expressed concern that her daughter’s remains might have been mistakenly mixed up with another.
Health Department spokesperson, Dr. Rolene Wagner, expressed sympathy for Busisiwe’s ongoing search, acknowledging the family’s pain. Busisiwe had previously visited the mortuary in 2022, after police suggested that several unidentified bodies might match her daughter’s description. Despite these efforts, none of the bodies found were Happy’s. A further attempt in 2023 yielded the same result.
In late 2024, Busisiwe returned to the mortuary, convinced her daughter’s body was among those held there. The department made arrangements for her to view the bodies again, and DNA samples were taken for testing. Wagner confirmed that results will be shared with Busisiwe once available, and that the police are working closely with the health department on the matter.
Wagner also addressed Busisiwe’s allegations regarding a negative interaction with a forensic officer, stating that an internal investigation is underway. She added that counseling services have been offered to Busisiwe to help her cope with the emotional toll of her ongoing search for closure.
