Burnt body found in the veld
The extent of the damage makes it difficult to easily establish whether the body is male or female, say police.
A body was found burnt beyond recognition in the veld in Leeuwfontein in the eastern part of Pretoria recently, police said.
“We found the body on Saturday with tyre wires around the neck which suggests that the tyre was used during the fatal incidence,” Kameeldrift police spokesperson Sergeant Mavis Sindane said.
Sindane said they opened a murder case because the preliminary investigation suggests that the person was possibly murdered. If the body was found without clear indications that the person had been murdered, an inquest will be opened.
“Although indications suggest that a tyre was used in the crime, details regarding the method used to commit the murder are not known yet and subject to a holistic murder investigation.”
She said although the tyre wires were found on the neck it was too early to suggest that the deceased had been “necklaced”.
“We do not know whether the person was killed somewhere else, brought to the veld and sent alight or not. We do not know the method of murder and, therefore, cannot speculate on whether the deceased had been necklaced or not.”
According to Sindane, the body was found in the veld by a passerby who immediately alerted the police.
She said they however have limited information at this stage to help them identify the victim and, therefore, asked the community members to intervene.
“We request members of the public who have the necessary information that could help the police to identify the victim and solve the murder case quicker to please come forward.”
She said those with information were also welcome to provide it anonymously.
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“Anyone with information can reveal it to the police without revealing his or her identity.”
People with necessary information can call Kameeldrift police station on 012 819 8213 or SAPS Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or their nearest police station.
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