MH370 UPDATE: CAA collects debris from KZN family
Officials from the South African Civil Aviation Authority have collected debris suspected to be that of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 from a KwaZulu-Natal family.
18-year-old Liam Lotter of Wartburg made the discovery while on holiday with his family in Mozambique.
Two officials from the Accident and Incident Investigation Division of the CAA arrived at the Wartburg home of the Lotter family shortly after midday.
The soft blue honeycomb structure, which is about one metre in length, lay on the patio table.
After briefly examining it, the officials took an official statement from the teenager who made the discovery on a beach between Guinjata and Paindane on 27 December while walking with his cousin, Calvin Demont.
As the piece of debris that could prove crucial to the ongoing MH370 investigation was handed over, Liam's mother Candace told East Coast Radio Newswatch it felt like she was letting go of a child.
It had become a familiar feature in the family's study for the last two and a half months.
The officials will take the object with them to the Midrand offices of the CAA before the piece of debris begins its journey to Malaysia and then onto Australia where it will be comprehensively examined.
The Boeing 777 had been flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared with 239 people on board on 8 March two years ago.
(Photos: Khatija Nxedlana)