Man held for farm rape and murder

A FARMWORKER who allegedly raped and killed a woman is expected to be charged in the Kirkwood Magistrate’s Court today.

Charlotte Booysen’s body was dumped on the farm, Sitrusoewer, in Kirkwood – 2km from her home in the nearby settlement.

Booysen, 54, was believed to have been raped and strangled at an unknown location before being dumped in bushes on the farm.

Police have declined to release the man’s name until he is charged in court.

Police spokesman Sergeant Majola Nkohli said passersby spotted the body and contacted the police at about 9am on Monday.

“A team of detectives followed up on information that led to the arrest of a farmworker, 32, on Monday.”

Nkohli said the motive was still not known as nothing appeared to be missing from Booysen or from the house.

“It would appear that they were all drinking together on Sunday night – the last time she was seen alive.

“It is unclear what transpired during their socialising, but somehow [Booysen] was killed.

“The investigation is still under way and detectives are questioning the suspect.

“We suspect that she was murdered somewhere else and her body dumped on this farm.”

Booysen was unemployed and the man arrested works at Sitrusoewer, where her body was found.

Nkohli said the man had allegedly been seen dumping the body.

“Leads were followed up and the man was arrested.”

Nkohli said the motive would only be established once the arrested man was interrogated.

“At this stage we are following up on leads.”

The postmortem results are expected to be completed this week.

A case of rape and murder is under investigation.