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Decomposed body found in the ceiling

NELSPRUIT – A decomposed body of a woman was found in a ceiling of a certain house on Tuesday morning, 04 October 2022 around 11:00 in Minaar Street at Balfour.

According to the report, the Police recieved a complaint of a bad odour coming from a house in the area of Balfour. On arrival police found a woman who indicated that she has moved into the said house about a month ago to stay with the father of her child.

The Police began to check the house in order to determine where the odour was coming from. At first, the ceiling trapdoor did not show clearly what was inside, however the members proceeded to the next room and broke the ceiling where they made a discovery of a human body wrapped with some clothes.

Emergency Services personnel were summoned to the scene however, the body was in a decomposed state in such a way that the gender could not be determined at that time. It was later established through the shoes that the victim was wearing as well as the nail polish and other features that the body is that of a female person. A murder case is being investigated by the police.

On further questioning by police, the woman indicated that she too was concerned about the odour and even asked her partner but he responded that it was due to rats. When she was asked on the whereabouts of her companion, the woman indicated that she last saw him on Saturday, 01 October 2022 when he indicated that he was going to make payments of some accounts and then vanished. The family is yet to identify the deceased.

The investigators believe that Mr Thabo Silas Tsotetsi (photo attached) could assist in their investigation therefore police urge anyone who may know his whereabouts or anyone with information that may help in the investigation to contact Detective Sergeant Moeketsi Mofokeng at 072 351 3801 or call the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111. Alternatively members of the public can send information via MySAPS App. All received information will be treated as confidential and callers may opt to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile the Provincial Commissioner of the SAPS in Mpumalanga, Lieutenant General Semakaleng Daphney Manamela has condemned the incident in the strongest possible terms it deserves. “This is really heartbreaking for a woman to be murdered and her body being concealed in such a manner. We strongly suspect that this is another gender-based violence incident but hope and trust that anyone behind this murder will feel the full might of the law” said the General.

Source: South African Police Service