The body of a 42-year-old woman was found in a river stream in the Magwaveni area in oThongathi, KZN, this morning.

Prem Balram, the spokesperson for Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa), says a member of the public contacted Rusa at around 08:00 after he made the discovery.

“Rusa members were immediately dispatched and on arrival, discovered the woman in a prone position below a low-lying footbridge. Her head was wedged underwater between two boulders.

“One resident told reaction officers that they heard screams last night but were afraid to investigate,” adds Balram.

He says the woman’s identity has been established. She resided approximately 100m from where her body was discovered.

“According to her family, she left her home at approximately 17:00 on Sunday to purchase vegetables and did not return.”