Blood identified as that of one of missing British botanists

Only one person's blood found in the vehicle means the couple could have been separated during the kidnapping and assault.

Rachel (64) and Rodney (73) Saunders were well-known botanists from Cape Town – PHOTO: Supplied

Blood found in the vehicle of missing Cape Town-based British botanists, Rod (74) and Rachael (63) Saunders, was this week revealed to be that of Racheal’s, Zululand Observer reports.

The Zululand Observer confirmed this through a source close to the investigation.

“The fact that it was only her blood in the vehicle means they could have been separated during the kidnapping and assault,” said the source.

While Sayfydeen Aslam Del Vecchio (38), Bibi Fatima Patel and Thembamandla Xulu (19) are expected to appear in the Verulam Magistrate’s Court, KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday, a manhunt for a fourth suspect in the case is still ongoing.

Police are searching for Malawian national Ahmed Jackson Mussa, known as “Bazooka”, and have appealed to the Malawian community in South Africa to assist them in tracing Mussa, who they believe is the outstanding piece of the puzzle.