Community shocked at gruesome murders

11 September 2014 - 11:38 By Sipho Masombuka
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File photo
File photo
Image: Thinkstock

The smouldering body of a woman found in a dump site steel bin in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, yesterday morning has fuelled fears of a serial killer prowling the area.

According to police, this is a third body discovered in the far East area of the sprawling township in less than two weeks, with unofficial figures pointing to five bodies so far.

The battered and bound body of 24-year-old Letta Letsoalo was also found in a dumping site whilst Katlego Ndlovu, 23, was found strangled next to a reservoir in Phase 5 extension days apart last week.

A man accused of killing the women is recovering in hospital after he was assaulted by community members who also burnt his house and car on Tuesday.

Describing the latest gruesome discovery in Extension 6, Klaas Mathabathe - who stays several metres from the site - said he was about to dump rubbish in the steel bin when he spotted smouldering flesh.

“It was just after 8pm when I went there unaware. As I was about to lift my bucket, there it was...smouldering from above the knees, facing up. It was a horrific sight,” he said.

Police spokesman Captain Donia Mothutsane said they could not say at this stage if this was a work of a serial killer, saying the modus operandi in the murders was different.

“Evidence has been collected at all the crime scenes and is to be sent to the laboratory for analysis. We are awaiting the post mortem results of all the three bodies,” she said.

Institute for Security Studies senior crime researcher Dr Johan Burger said hopefully police have properly investigated the possibility of a serial killer.

“In the end they will have to answer if indeed there is a similar modus operandi and they did not pick that up,” he said.

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