Slain security guard found in Gauteng graveyard

A man who took a shortcut through a graveyard in Sharpeville, located between Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, was killed on Tuesday.

The Sharpeville police are investigating a case of murder after a man’s body was found in an open field next to Vuka Cemetery.

Police said that when they arrived at the scene, they found a man’s lifeless body. He was wearing a black security uniform.

“The body was lying on the ground facing upwards with a head injury. Upon further investigation, an empty cartridge was found next to the body of the deceased,” says SAPS Constable Busisiwe Sango.

Community members are concerned about the rise in killings and robberies around the Vuka cemetery and many other illegal dumping sites in the township. Earlier this year, they took to the streets and burnt down illegal structures that housed vagrants who collect recyclable materials at illegal dumping sites. Some of the structures were next to the cemetery.

“The police need to do something about this. We use the footpath next to the cemetery to go to Vanderbijlpark, because we are not employed and we do not have money for taxis.

“Vaal University of Technology students also use that footpath to go to the university; they too are robbed and killed. We are sick and tired of the robberies and murders. Soon, we will take the law into our own hands and things will not be nice,” a resident said.

Sharpeville police have appealed to the public to not pass through the cemetery.

Anyone with information about the man’s death is urged to contact Sharpeville SAPS on 071 675 7270 or 08600 10111, or visit the MySAPS App, which can be downloaded on any smartphone.