Man found dead near Westend Shopping Centre identified
A man found dead near the Westend Shopping Centre was reportedly well-known and liked by many in Mbombela.
Johannes Daniël Badenhorst, known to Lowvelders for standing daily at the traffic lights near the Westend Shopping Centre, was found dead on the grassy banks near the centre last Friday morning, October 27.
Badenhorst, believed to be about 56, was known and well liked by a number of people who drove through the intersection of Dr Enos Mabuza Drive and Madiba Drive.
Media queries regarding the cause of Badenhorst’s death have gone unanswered by the Nelspruit Police Station.
ALSO READ: Quick reaction from security at mall in Mbombela leads to arrest of burglar
A local, Chantell Venter, who was at the scene on Friday morning, said she was heartbroken when she learnt of his death.
“I would often sit with him at the side of the robots and just have a chat with him,” she said. “I sometimes brought my two sons along to visit him. They loved having a talk with him. He was so generous and just a lovely person. He would always say: ‘May the Lord bless you.’”
Venter said she suspects there was no foul play involved in the cause of his death, however, this could not be confirmed with the police by the time of going to press.
She also thanked Mbombela community member and ward councillor Thea Rix for organising for Badenhorst’s body to be transported by a local funeral service to its parlour.
ALSO READ: Masoyi man sentenced to life imprisonment for raping minor
Venter said she and another local man, who knew Badenhorst well, Marius Linde, were going to identify his body at the parlour yesterday.
Linde, who was also at the scene on Friday morning, said there were many people in the community who knew and loved Badenhorst.
“They loved him because they knew his heart,” he said.
