A 27-year-old suspect has been arrested following the discovery of the body of a 26-year-old man in an open veld in Fleurhof Ext 21.

According to district police communications co-ordinator Lieutenant Colonel Mpho Tshethlane, Florida police have opened a murder case, and investigations are continuing.

Tshethlane said the victim was allegedly stabbed in the upper body while walking along a street on July 4.

He later succumbed to his injuries.

“The motive for the incident is still unknown, and the investigation is ongoing,” said Tshethlane.

Residents of Ext 21 met with Florida Police Station Commander Colonel Frans Marweshe on July 15 to raise concerns about the open veld, which they described as a hotspot for criminal activity, particularly robberies.

During the meeting, Sector 3 CPF chairperson Mukundwa Tshinavhe said the CPF receives complaints about crime in the open veld almost every week, highlighting the community’s ongoing safety concerns.

Marweshe committed to increasing patrols and police visibility in the area. He also encouraged residents to join the Community in Blue initiative, through which community members undergo a vetting process to become patrollers.

Tshethlane confirmed that the suspect appeared in court on July 20.