Mduduzi Petros Mashiane (40) appeared in the Belfast Magistrate’s Court today (Wednesday) after he handed himself over to police following the death of a woman believed to be his girlfriend.

According to a press release issued by the provincial police, Mashiane walked into the Machadodorp Police Station at 05:30 Tuesday morning and told officers that he had killed his girlfriend.

Police questioned him about the whereabouts of the woman’s body, after which he indicated that he had left her in the veld. He further told officers that he had been returning to the location daily and offered to take them to the scene.

Police accompanied the man to a farm near Machadodorp where he pointed out the body of a woman. The body was found lying on the ground, uncovered and facing upwards. She was still clothed in blue jeans and a khaki T-shirt, but was barefoot.

About 20 metres from where the body was found, police also discovered a shallow grave, believed to have been dug with the intention of burying the deceased. According to the police report, the incident is occurred on Saturday afternoon, March 7, at about 16:00, following an argument between the couple.

Further investigations led police to a house in Emthonjeni, Machadodorp, where officers found and seized bloodstained clothes, believed to be that of the suspect.

The case was remanded to March 18.