FOLLOW UP: Police find 2 bodies in arrested man’s rental room in eMbalenhle
Community thought the suspect is demon possessed.
“How can a normal person sleep in the same room as two bodies?”
The mother of the man in whose room two bodies were discovered over the weekend asked this question to Ridge Times on Saturday while the police removed the remains of a man from the suspect’s rental room in Ext 11, eMbalenhle.
A police detective found the severely decomposed body of a man wrapped in plastic under the bed while searching for something with which he could identify a woman whose body was discovered in the same room on February 17.
Coins had been placed around the man’s body and a wooden cross was found nearby.
Police found the first body when the suspect’s mother alerted the police of a foul odour and flies coming from her son’s room.
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She could not access the room because her son had locked the door and taken the key with him when he was arrested on another unrelated case two days before and was still in police custody.
The suspect was arrested on February 15 and appeared in court the next day for domestic violence against his mother after he violated a restraining order.
This case was postponed to February 23 and the suspect was remanded in custody.
According to Mpumalanga police spokesman, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, police officers who responded to the mother’s alert, also observed a bad odour and flies.
A family member helped to break open the door.
“A woman’s nearly decomposed body was found in bed covered in blankets.
“She was only wearing a white T-shirt. The victim is light in complexion and her age is estimated to be between 25 and 30,” Mohlala said in a media statement.
According to Mohlala, the preliminary investigation revealed that this woman might have been strangled as a shoelace was found around her neck. The woman’s body also had some signs of bleeding.
“The police suspect the murder could have been committed before the suspect’s arrest.”
The suspect will appear in court on murder charges soon.
Before the investigating officer revisited the crime scene on Saturday, the suspect’s mother also went to the police station to again complain that the bad odour did not subside after the woman’s body had been removed.
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The mother told Ridge Times she had been reporting her son’s behaviour to the police for several months, but the police only warned the suspect.
Only when she approached the eMbalenhle station commander, Colonel Maria Sibanyoni, her complaints were taken seriously.
“I was scared that he was also going to kill me because I asked him why his room is always locked,” she said.
“The second body appears to have been kept in the house long before the woman’s body because it was decomposed, with worms all over it,” the mother said about the crime scene.
She was afraid of her child and had obtained a restraining order against him.
“He had threatened me and even tried to break down my room door.
“My life and that of the other tenants were in danger. Some of the others even decided to relocate,” said the woman.
Residents were shocked by gruesome discoveries. Some told Ridge Times they suspected the man was possessed by bad spirits.
Several had wanted to have him removed from their community. Police said an additional murder charge will be added to the suspect’s existing case.
They are now attempting to determine the identities of the two victims. Anyone with information is requested to visit the eMbalenhle Police Station.
Alternatively, the public can call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111 or send information via MYSAPSAPP.
All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.
