Mystery surrounds a missing persons investigation first flagged by the South African Police Service on Sunday, 14 June, of a UK citizen, Naomi Gaynor Bernes, who, it turns out, passed away in Cape Town in January this year.

On Sunday, the Western Cape police issued an alert, seeking assistance to locate Bernes, who had been reported missing in the United Kingdom.

It was further stated that Bernes checked in at the Cape Town International Airport on 20 April to fly back to the United Kingdom, but she never boarded the aircraft, and UK authorities failed to contact her.

A missing persons report for Bernes was filed in the UK three weeks later, on 12 May.

On Wednesday, 17 June, police released a follow-up statement, revealing that Bernes had passed away on 29 January due to natural causes.

This followed enquiries conducted by the Bureau for Missing Persons, which obtained the information through the attorney responsible for the administration of her estate.

With the missing persons investigation concluded, the question now turns to who used Bernes’ identity at the Cape Town International Airport on 20 April, since she has been deceased since January.

According to News24, Bernes passed away at a Cape Town hospital from cancer, after having moved to South Africa last year, and she was not in touch with any of her family. She reportedly lived in Melkbosstrand.

The report quotes unnamed police sources who have confirmed that the investigation is now centred on possible identity theft and fraud.

The office of the Provincial Police Commissioner has also extended its condolences to the family and loved ones of Bernes.