Police investigate murder of Centurion woman (26) after horrific smell arising from her flat
Xoliswa Radebe (26) was found dead in her apartment in Centurion days after she was murdered.
Police in Tshwane are investigating the murder of Xoliswa Radebe, a 26-year-old IT business analyst, who was killed in her apartment at The Junction in Centurion.
Tshwane SAPS spokesperson, Warrant Officer Johan van Dyk confirmed the murder and said police were investigating the case.
The murder is believed to have occurred on the first weekend of May, however, her body was only discovered on May 7, when neighbours reported a horrific smell coming from her flat.
Van Dyk said police could not provide more information on the incident, however, an investigation on Xoliswa’s murder was continuing with police following up on all leads.
Xoliswa’s family said that they were left with no closure, as police were in the initial phase of investigations for the murder.
According to the advocacy non-profit organisation Women for Change, Xoliswa was allegedly beaten to death.
Her body was found in an advanced stage of decomposition.
Phindile Radebe, Xoliswa’s cousin, said that her family were devastated by their loved one’s murder.
“She wasn’t a person who liked to go out, she was committed and hard-working,” said Phindile.
“Our family are not okay now. We don’t have closure, we don’t really know what happened to Xoliswa. We don’t know how this could have happened. Her body was severely decomposed on Tuesday when we arrived.”
Phindile said that police had told them that it could take some time before her killer was brought to justice.
“We understand at this point that the police are gathering evidence before they can make an arrest.
But until then, her killer is out in society,” she said.
She said when she called Xoliswa on Sunday (May 5) she didn’t get through.
“At the time, I thought it could have been a network issue.
I didn’t think that there could be anything wrong until Tuesday when the police called me and told me that she had passed on.”
She said that after they received the news, she called Xoliswa’s boyfriend to tell him she had died.
Phindile said that he had last seen her on Saturday to drop off some groceries.
Xoliswa’s funeral was held on Saturday, May 11, as the advanced decomposition had meant that her funeral needed to be held soon after her body was discovered.
“The funeral was held at my mom’s place, where she grew up. We couldn’t even bury her at a normal funeral.
Her funeral was so painful. Her murderer took everything from us, even this last respect to her. I can’t even sleep,” Phindile said.
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