Family Demands Murder Investigation Into British Hiker's Disappearance in South Africa

The family of Lorna McSorley, a British woman who disappeared while hiking in South Africa in September 2025, is urging authorities to treat her case as a murder investigation rather than a missing persons inquiry. McSorley, 71, from Teignmouth, Devon, vanished during a walk with her partner, Leon Probert, 82.

The couple had checked into the Ghost Mountain Inn in the KwaZulu-Natal province for a two-week holiday and decided to take a short walk to observe local wildlife. Probert turned back due to the heat and distance, leaving McSorley to continue alone. She failed to return to the hotel after three hours, prompting an extensive search of the surrounding area.

Despite the search efforts, no sign of McSorley was found. Local residents in the region have suggested that her disappearance could be linked to 'muti' rituals, a form of traditional medicine or magic prevalent in the area. Some beliefs within these practices involve the use of human body parts for powerful charms or medicines, often procured by individuals seeking wealth or power.

McSorley's brother, Geoff Sheward, 73, expressed the family's distress over the uncertainty. "As bad as it would be to hear any horrible details, knowing nothing is definitely worse," he told The Times. "We are just in limbo, unable to settle her affairs or know how to grieve."

Geoff Sheward, Lorna's brother, has stated that her disappearance must be investigated as a murder.

According to Zulu culture expert Jacob Sabelo Ntshangase, body parts from White individuals and those with albinism are sometimes believed to possess properties that bring strength and wealth in certain 'muti' practices. He suggested that McSorley, having been alone in a remote area, might have been targeted and abducted.

CCTV footage shows McSorley and Probert arriving at the Ghost Mountain Inn on September 27, 2025. They reportedly set off on a three-mile walk later that afternoon. McSorley is said to have stopped at a local farmer's property to ask for directions after her partner turned back. The official search was paused on October 4, with authorities exploring other leads. The case has not been classified as a murder, a designation her family now seeks.