The body of a 44-year-old woman who had been reported missing, was found near a bridge in Leslie in the Gert Sibande District of Mpumalanga.

According to Banele Malinga, a relative of the woman, the deceased was last seen on December 24 at about 23:00.

A friend of the family saw clothes the woman was wearing on the day of her disappearance, hanging on a fence opposite her house and contacted the missing woman’s family.

The police searched the area and initially did not find her body.

However, the police contacted the family on December 26 when they found the body of a woman.

She had an amputated finger, burn marks, bruises and signs that she was assaulted and strangled.

The family identified her.

Police urge anybody with information to contact the branch commander of Leslie Police on 082 499 6105 or the Crime Stop number on 08600 10111.