Ezibeleni residents fear for safety after discovery of woman’s naked body on streets of Unathi Mkefa
The Ezibeleni community is in shock after the discovery of brutally murdered young woman on the streets of Unathi Mkefa recently.
According to a community member, Xolisa Ndabeni Sithole, the body of the young woman was found lying on the street with no clothes on her lower body.
“She was allegedly raped and stabbed in her back,” he said.
According to Sithole, the woman’s family last contacted her a night before the discovery and she told them that she was happy and travelling in a Toyota Quantum.
“But she did not say who she was travelling with,” Sithole said.
SAPS spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu confirmed that the body of a 31year-old woman was found lying in a pool of blood on Sunday.
“Ezibeleni police are investigating a case of murder. On Sunday October 22 2023, police attended a scene where they found 31-year-old woman lying in a pool of blood with injuries.
“No arrests have been made yet and police appeal to anyone who can assist in arresting a suspect to please contact Ezibeleni Detective Commander Captain Keva at 082-442-2596.”
In another incident, Maliphakame Mkorwana, 26, was granted a R1,500 bail by the Dordrecht magistrate’s court on October 30. Mkorwana was arrested by the serious organised crime investigation kidnapping task team of the Hawks in a joint operation with Mdantsane tactical response team on October 13 on allegations of kidnapping.
Hawks spokesperson Warrant-Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakuvana said Mkorwana’s arrest came after the information about the kidnapping of a foreign national at his shop in Dordrecht on July 17.
“The allegations revealed that the victim was accosted by four armed unidentified men, who allegedly pointed a firearm at him and forced him into a gold Toyota Avanza. Further allegations exposed that the victim was kidnapped, and held by kidnappers for a few days, during which they demanded his cash, bank cards and his pin number,” he said.
Mhlakuvana said the suspects allegedly withdrew R8,000 from the victim’s bank account using his card.
“Moreover, the allegations further exposed that the suspects had purchased expensive clothes worth R27,000. The cash, clothes, and the vehicle were seized.
“Through investigation Mkorwana was linked to the said kidnapping. Mkorwana was traced by the joint team and arrested on October 13.
“Mkorwana made a series of court appearances at Dordrecht magistrate’s court until he was released on R1,500 bail on October 30. The case was remanded to January 25 2024 for further investigation,” he said.