SYDENHAM police made the grim discovery of decomposed bodies near an informal settlement in the suburb on Tuesday morning.
According to Captain Myen Lazarus, communications officer at Sydenham SAPS, the bodies discovered were all unidentifiable and discovered by someone who had used a shortcut through a small informal settlement and reported it to police.
“The first body was mainly bones as it was badly decomposed, while the second discovery was that of a partially decomposed woman naked from the waist down and the third had been burnt and decomposed.” An inquest into the deaths will be investigated by Sydenham SAPS.
All the bodies were found in a bushy area and down pathways off Locksley Drive between Raferty Crecent and Loon Road, in close proximity to St Philomena’s Children’s Home.
Themba Mthembu, a resident living in the Locksley Drive informal settlement close to where the bodies were dsicovered said it was very concerning. “It looks like people think this is a dumping ground for dead bodies, its terrible. I feel very bad for their families,” he added.
Satish Dhupelia, Sydenham CPF, Communications Officer and vice chair for the Sherwood CPF, who attended the scene said, “We don’t know the cause of the death of the three deceased, two were in very bad shape.
“The main issue here is figuring out who owns the land because we don’t want it to be a dumping ground for dead bodies. The bushy area also has broken electrical wires lying around and we are speculating at this point but will know more once police do a post mortem.”
Dhupelia said he looked forward to the investigation revealing clues about the deaths.
“The area should be well maintained and cleaned up on a regular basis. People are chopping wooden barriers, driving in and dumping their rubbish there. Just last week I saw a contractor dumping and got the police to come out and issue him with a fine.”
Dhupelia said it was imperative that the city council and government do something about informal settlements and the lack of electricity as illegal connections were common and people, children and pets being electrocuted had become increasingly common.
“We are making these people invisible and leaving the poor people to turn into criminals in desperation. It is time for council to do something, even if its a junction box so they don’t have to steal electricity.
Dupelia also recalled similar grisly discoveries in the vicinity about four or five years ago. “There were a few bodies found then, so we can’t rule out foul play,” he added.
