Barberton SAPS arrests man with woman’s dead body in bag
A man was allegedly on his way to dispose of a body at the Barberton dumpsite. A mob surrounded and started assaulting him, before the police arrived to calm the situation and arrest him.
The Barberton SAPS had to rescue a 38-year-old suspect from an angry mob after he was allegedly caught at the Barberton dumpsite pushing a trolley with a 19-year-old woman’s body hidden inside a bag.
According to Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, a provincial police spokesperson, this incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, February 19. Mohlala said the suspect was allegedly trying to dispose of the body at about 14:15.
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“The suspicious-looking man caught the attention of three women when they saw him pushing the trolley that seemed too heavy for him. They stopped a taxi operator at the traffic lights, narrated to him what they had observed, and requested him to assist in investigating. As they went to the man, the bag fell down from his trolley. It was opened by one of these concerned citizens, and they were surprised to find the body of a female inside.
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“The Barberton SAPS was immediately called, however, when they arrived, some community members had already started assaulting the man. The police managed to calm the situation down and the suspect was rescued from the angry mob. He was arrested and taken to hospital to receive treatment under police guard,” said Mohlala.
According to him, the motive and cause of death have yet to be established, and a post-mortem will be conducted. Police investigations continue.
