Subsequent to the release of the alarming crime statistics showing an upsurge in murder, a body was found dumped at the Fairland Spruit on 24 September.
It is alleged that a fight between two of the illegal squatters of the Fairland Spruit banks ended in the fatal stabbing and dumping of the body into the spruit where it lay guarded by a police officer before being removed.
A concerned resident, Malcolm Watts, witnessed a police officer watching over the deceased while waiting for the mortuary van to arrive.
“The police were attending the scene along with other residents and businesses in the neighbourhood and all were talking about the fact that someone had been stabbed to death after an argument had broken into a fight,” retold Watts.
Illegal squatters are a major concern among residents.
“The residents are in fear, as these illegal squatters have been here on and off for years and we have had one attack in a complex on our common property.
“We are just disappointed in the lack of concern and reaction from the authorities in finding a sustainable solution to this problem,” commented Watts.
Dr Gulam Karim of the Fairland Resident’s Association confirmed that after receiving the news, police officer, Sergeant Lekwape of Fairland Police Station immediately called the Johannesburg Emergency Medical Services, who also requested the Diving Unit to assist them to retrieve the body from the spruit.
According to Dr Karim, the deceased had lacerations on his head and a possible case of murder is being investigated, although this will largely be based on the post-mortem report.
“This is an area frequented by vagrants and the community is requested to provide information to the police to identify the deceased,” said Dr Karim.
The recent crime statistics revealed that there are close to 47 murders a day in South Africa. Over the last year, murder went up by 5 per cent in more than 17 000 cases, that is 800 cases more than in the previous year.
Police statistics show 17 068 murders were recorded in the 2013/2014 year, up from 16 259 in 2012/2013.
