Benoni SAPS cluster spokesperson Capt Mack Mngomezulu said the victim’s lifeless body was discovered at Danie Taljaard Park yesterday morning (September 23).
Police received a call from a member of the public notifying police of the victim’s body floating in Kleinfontein Dam, at around 8.30am.
Mngomezulu said the man had been strangled and hit on the head with an iron rod.
He said the deceased’s family told police their loved one left his home on Monday to feed the destitute at the Danie Taljaard Park.
When police arrived on the scene, they found the deceased’s bank cards.
These were used to trace the victim’s residence.
When the Benoni SAPS arrived at the address, they were informed that the Boksburg North SAPS had already been there with the victim’s suspected stolen bakkie.
Police then discovered that two suspects had been stopped for drunk driving in Boksburg North in the same vehicle.
They were released as they displayed no suspicious behaviour.
The Benoni SAPS went to Boksburg SAPS to get a description of the suspects, as they had been released.
After investigation, a member of the public, who spends time at the Danie Taljaard Park, told police he knows one of the suspects.
The informant called the SAPS when one of the suspects returned to the scene.
Once police arrived, the suspect lead the police to his nephew, who was then also arrested.
The suspects, who are 29 and 35 years old, were arrested and are expected to appear in the Benoni Magistrates Court tomorrow (Thursday September 25) on a murder charge.
Mngomezulu said the motive for the crime is possible robbery, as the suspects sold the stolen vehicle’s car radio and victim’s cell phone battery.
Police do not suspect anyone else is involved in the case.
Yet another murder
The City Times reported on the murder of a 17-year-old Wordsworth High School pupil who was killed in her home, in Etwatwa, on September 16.
This week, the owner of Midas Motor Spares, in Ampthill Avenue, Zafrulla Bham, was killed on September 21.
He was responding to an alarm activation at his store when the incident occurred.
Dangerous park
The City Times has in the recent past reported on many cases of people falling prey to crime at the Danie Taljaard Park.
Earlier this year, the Benoni police sent a stern warning to local anglers to avoid the N12 highway bank of Kleinfontein Dam, in Danie Taljaard Park, when they go fishing, following an attack.
This is very unusual as Benoni was reletavily Safe WHO is the investigating Officer?
I think these homeless people are turning up to be robberies more now as there was another incident of a man asking for money for bread from a around Northmead square, but he took her bag insteadly, till the passerby helped, we need to take caution, rather have them in a home not on the streets, can they not be allowed on the streets and malls!
Seriously Sharon!! What cloud are you living on. Benoni is NOT SAFE AT ALL !! These homeless people and drug addicts are causing seriously problems all over Benoni, but the churches in the area are feeding these people, which attracts more and more to the area. Incidents of muggings and damage to property are on the increase. Garden taps are being stolen every night, and muggings happening all the time. Be alert, and stay away from dangerous areas.
So, we get a stern warning to stay away from these places. These PLACES were once places for relaxing and family enjoyment. Can the police and local government please make sure it’s like that again?! Part of our rates and taxes go for the up keeping of the town. We surely would like to enjoy our lakes and parks again with our families.