East London murder

Image via: Adobe Stock

Elderly Mpumalanga woman’s body found in freezer

The woman’s body was discovered by neighbours who had been searching for her

East London murder

Image via: Adobe Stock

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in Mpumalanga has opened an investigation of murder after the body of an 80-year-old woman was discovered inside a freezer in Pankop near Mmamethlake.

The gruesome finding was made on Monday, 12 October 15, 2020, by the woman’s neighbours. She is believed to have stayed with her 10-year-old grandson and a caregiver, who was hired to look after her.

“On Monday, the young boy came back from school only to find that there was nobody at home. He realised that the door to the house was wide open but the burglar door was locked. He then began to ask neighbours of the whereabouts of his granny and the caregiver,” said SAPS Mpumalanga spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli.

The neighbours then stepped in to help the boy look for his grandmother. Family was also notified about her disappearance.

“Whilst searching, the neighbours became suspicious when they noticed a coffee table, gas stove and a TV set placed on top of the freezer. They then removed the items and discovered the lifeless body of the elderly woman inside the freezer. The police as well as medical personnel were summoned where the victim was certified dead at the scene,”

SAPS Mpumalanga spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli

Woman urged to come forward

Police subsequently opened a case of murder.

The circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remain unclear at this stage and police are yet to disclose further details surrounding the mystery.

They have since called on a woman known as MmaThato to assist in the investigation as they believe she may have information which is critical to solving it.

At the same time in Valbank, just a few kilometers from Mmamethlake, a similar incident occurred recently between March and September 2020. Police alleged that a 91-year-old woman was severely assaulted by a caregiver, who was also hired to look after her.

The suspect, a 45-year-old woman, is then said to have fled the scene. A case of assault with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm (GBH) was opened, which prompted the authorities to ask serious questions.

The suspect, believed to be from Lesotho, was traced and arrested in Pretoria. She is expected to appear in the Mbibana Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 16 October 2020, where she is also expected to apply for bail.

“The police have strongly condemned the incident as well as the vicious attack on senior citizens because these incidents once again depict a serious moral decay in the society,”