Nearly eight weeks after two knife attacks in Farrarmere, Benoni in which one woman was severely injured and another murdered, police believe they may have made a break in the investigation.

Amanda Lightfoot was killed in Windermere Drive on April 14 and the attack on Lishanta Rajagopal happened in Main Street.

According to Capt Nomsa Sekele, spokesperson for the Benoni SAPS, a body of a man was found on Third Avenue, Northmead on April 20. It has now come to light that he matches the description they have of the attacker.

“He had an Afro and was wearing a grey jacket and a yellow T-shirt with faded grey jeans. Investigations are continuing to establish his identity and a possible link to both cases,” says Sekele.

Lightfoot (18) of Atlasville was attacked and killed around 13:00 on April 14, days before her birthday in what was deemed an opportunistic crime.

The beauty student was waiting in a parked vehicle outside her boyfriend’s work when the man, armed with a knife, approached her.

“It appeared that a struggle ensued, and that the victim was stabbed in the chest,” says Sekele.

“She was taken to a local hospital by her boyfriend and his father but was declared dead on arrival.”

On April 13, shortly after 13:00, a day before Amanda’s death, Lishanta was attacked by a knife-wielding man on Main Street.

She was leaving her place of work early when a man forced her car door open and started assaulting her with the back of a knife.

“The victim put up a fight and was subsequently stabbed in the head. Her cellphone fell on the ground, which the suspect picked up before walking away from the scene,” says Sekele.

“She sustained injuries to her nose, ear and head but was able to supply police with a description of the assailant. A motorist also saw a man loitering under a tree, not far from the scene of the crime.”

There have been no further attacks in the area following Amanda’s death.