Detectives in Carletonville in the Northwest province are investigating the brutal murder of a 55-year-old former mine worker whose body was discovered in a wooded area, reports Caletonville Herald.

A pedestrian made the grim discovery at 11:05 on June 15 while walking along a gravel path leading into the veld from Falcon Street, on the far eastern side of the town. The site, located next to the northern wall of the old Goldfields Recreation Club, is surrounded by eucalyptus trees and is known to older residents as the ‘Blue Bush’.

The victim, an ex-employee of Mponeng Mine who had recently left his job due to health issues, was found lying just off a vehicle track with his feet tied together. He had suffered multiple stab wounds to the chest.

Police believe the man was killed on June 13 and that he had lain at the scene for three to four days before being spotted.

Officers found a trail of documents scattered around the area. Investigators revealed that the man had recently received a substantial payout after leaving the mine, leading them to suspect he was lured to the secluded spot and murdered for his money.

Among the papers, police recovered a fake service identity card containing a photograph but no name. Anyone who recognises the person in the picture is urged to contact local authorities immediately.

In a separate and equally baffling case, the remains of a young woman were discovered near Welverdiend on June 20.

Pedestrians alerted police at 13:40 after spotting the corpse in the veld between Khutsong Extension 6 and the Elijah Barayi Mega Housing Complex.

The young woman, thought to be between 18 and 22 years old, had been strangled. Police suspect she may also have been sexually assaulted before her killer attempted to burn her body with paraffin.

Anyone with information regarding either of these crimes is urged to contact the investigating officer, Sergeant Malesela Kekana, at the Carletonville Police Station.Fake police ID left next to slaughtered ex-miner in Carletonville.

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