Africa-Press – South-Africa. The ward councillor for Mitchells Plain, Daniel Christians, labelled a vacant site in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain as a “dune of evil” after yet another burnt body was discovered in the area.
Locals said three bodies were recently found at the same spot.
Western Cape police spokesperson, Sergeant Wesley Twigg, said Mitchells Plain police had opened a murder case following the discovery of the body of an unknown male in an open field, in Sea Otter Street on Sunday.
“Police were called to the crime scene, where they found the victim burnt beyond recognition. The motive for the attack is unknown. The suspect(s) fled the scene and are yet to be arrested,” said Twigg.
A Rocklands resident, Irma Langeveldt, was on her way to the shops when she noticed what smelt like copper being burnt.
She said:
Langeveldt said it wasn’t the first body found in the area, adding that it was a place for gangsters to “do their stuff”.
“There have been three bodies found there that I know of… one was a baby,” said Langeveldt. “It is a drug den, a dumping site, a hide-out for gangs, where people get raped and robbed. It is a crime haven.”
Christians said the dune was a breeding ground for crime as gangsters often hid in the sand caves and informal structures.
“I have asked the City of Cape Town to have that dune removed since 2007, but there was backlash from some residents. The area should be removed to create living spaces for people,” said Christians.
“There have been bodies dumped, rape cases that took place, people have gotten robbed there, and yet movement to get the dune removed is painstakingly slow.”
Valerie Moses, of the Rocklands Neighbourhood Watch, said:
The chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Police Forum, Norman Jantjes, said the community was concerned because there had been an upsurge in violence in the area.
“We can’t confirm that it is gang-related, but it appears that way. The way he was burnt, it seems like a crime of hatred or revenge,” said Jantjes.
“The burning of bodies is not a regular occurrence. But this is also not the first time – three bodies have been burnt in the last two months, of which two were female. It’s a new thing, but it’s worrying in that it happened in a short time span.”
“We want to come up with a comprehensive and integrated strategy to help us sort this violence out.”
Anyone with any information should contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
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