Body of missing former world champion found near Pretoria Cemetery

The body of the 42-year-old former world high jump champion Jacques Freitag was discovered with gunshot wounds in a field near the Zandfontein cemetery in Pretoria West.

Freitag was reported missing two weeks ago. He was reportedly last seen when he left his mother’s house at around 01:00 on 17 June with an unknown man to a guesthouse in Pretoria West.

The police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo, says a case of murder is now being investigated.

Masondo added that no one has been arrested yet.

“The discovery was made by the SAPS Search and Rescue Team which has been conducting a search for the missing person. The team included members from Air Wing with a police chopper, Water Wing and the local police.”

He said the family of the deceased has not yet identified the body.

Meanwhile, in other news,Tshwane police, security services, and community groups arrested 512 suspects for various crimes over the weekend.

“Over the weekend, Tshwane Police, led by Brigadier Samuel Thine, executed their duties tirelessly,” said Tshwane SAPS spokesperson, Johan van Dyk.

He said that the operations involved collaboration with various government departments, including Home Affairs, Gauteng Traffic, local law enforcement such as Tshwane Metro Police Department and Community Policing Forums.

Police patrolled crime-prone areas, inspections for compliance, and crackdowns on illegal alcohol sales.

“By the end of the weekend, 239 individuals were arrested for offenses like assault, housebreaking, public drinking, driving under the influence, and armed robbery with normal Police actions at Police stations across Tshwane,” said Van Dyk.

In the Pretoria-Moot and Villeria areas, Operation Shanela led to the arrests of 233 suspects.

“[These] included those involved in serious crimes such as one for murder, two for attempted murder, four for armed robbery, five for rape and 65 for Gender-based violence.”

Three tactical groups of officers were deployed to patrol the Pretoria-Moot and Villeria areas, leading to the inspection of 15 liquor premises and the closing of three liquor premises.

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