Police have opened an inquest after residents searching for missing eight-year-old Anovuyo Oncke discovered bones and a blood-stained dress beneath a container in the Riemvasmaak informal settlement at Phumlani Village.
The discovery was made on Monday evening, almost exactly a year after Anovuyo disappeared. Community members were cleaning the area as residents marked 12 months since the Grade 1 learner was last seen and continued their search for answers.
Grassy Park police were called to the scene at about 6.15pm after residents reportedly found the bones and dress under a container. The discovery immediately raised fears that the items could be connected to Anovuyo, but police have stressed that there is no confirmation at this stage that the bones are human or that they belong to the missing child.
The bones will undergo forensic examination. Until those tests have been completed, the identity and nature of the remains cannot be established.
Western Cape police spokesperson Constable Ndakhe Gwala confirmed that an inquest docket had been opened to investigate the discovery.
“This office confirms that on Monday 7 September 2026 at around 6.15pm, Grassy Park police responded to a complaint at Riemvaasmaak informal settlement, Phumlani Village, where community members were reportedly cleaning and they found bones and a blood stained dress under a container.
“Police opened an inquest docket for investigation. At this stage, we cannot confirm that it is human remains or that the bones are of the missing child. A forensic examination will be conducted.”
The police warning is an important one for Anovuyo’s family and the wider community. While the discovery is being investigated, there is no official confirmation that the eight-year-old has been found or that the material recovered from the settlement is connected to her disappearance.
Anovuyo was last seen on the morning of 6 September 2025. She had gone to play with friends in Riemvasmaak but did not return home. Her disappearance has led to repeated searches, appeals for information and growing frustration among community members who have continued looking for the young girl.
Residents said they remained determined to find Anovuyo and were prepared to raise money to bring in search dogs. Community worker Beryl Williams said residents had been calling for the South African Police Service and the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit to deploy a K9 Unit after developments in the area in July.
Williams said at the time: “Even if we must pay for the dogs ourselves and raise funds, we will do so. These people deserve better.
Her remarks reflected the determination of residents who have continued to search despite the passage of a year. Community members have been involved in efforts to locate the child and have pressed for more resources to be used in the investigation.
The discovery on Monday came as residents were cleaning the area. That detail has added to the distress surrounding the case, because the items were reportedly found in a place that community members were searching themselves. Police will now have to establish when the bones and dress were left there, whether they are connected and whether any other evidence can be recovered from the scene.
Investigators will also need to determine whether the blood-stained dress has any link to Anovuyo. The condition, size and other details of the clothing may form part of the forensic investigation, but no conclusions can be drawn before police and forensic experts complete their work.
Last week, police offered a reward of up to R50 000 for information that could lead to Anovuyo being found. The reward was intended to encourage anyone with knowledge about her disappearance to come forward and assist the investigation.
The latest discovery was first raised publicly in a post by Just Advocacy on Monday night. The organisation said community members had found what appeared to be bones while cleaning in Riemvasmaak and that police had been called to the scene.
Just Advocacy also claimed that the discovery was made at a shack belonging to a man whom community members had previously linked to the case. That claim has not been confirmed by police, and it should not be treated as an established fact. The identity of the person connected to the shack, the reason residents linked him to the disappearance and whether the location has any connection to Anovuyo will have to be established through the investigation.
Police have not confirmed that a crime has been committed in connection with the bones. An inquest is being used to examine the circumstances surrounding the discovery, while forensic testing will determine whether the remains are human and whether they can be identified.
For Anovuyo’s family, the wait for answers has already lasted a year. Her disappearance has left relatives and residents living with uncertainty, as every new report or possible clue brings both hope and fear. The discovery of the bones and dress has now created fresh questions, but it has not yet provided the confirmation the family needs.
Residents have been urged to avoid disturbing the area or handling any possible evidence. Anyone who witnessed activity around the container, saw people entering or leaving the area, or has information about Anovuyo’s movements on 6 September 2025 should share it with the police.
Members of the public who have information can contact the South African Police Service or Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Information can also be submitted anonymously through the MySAPS mobile application.
The police investigation will now focus on the forensic examination and the circumstances surrounding the discovery. The results could determine whether the bones are human, whether the dress contains useful evidence and whether the items have any connection to Anovuyo’s disappearance.
Until then, the case remains open and the child’s whereabouts remain officially unknown. The community’s search has led investigators to a disturbing discovery, but only forensic evidence and a full police investigation can establish what was found under the container and whether it has any link to the little girl who vanished after going to play with friends.
For now, Anovuyo’s family and the residents of Riemvasmaak are left waiting for answers that could finally bring clarity to a case that has haunted the community for 12 months.
