Human bones found in suburban bush
29 July 2010, 16:06
By Nosipho Mgoma and Megan van den Heever
Police returned on Wednesday to the spot where the skeleton of a man was found by a worker clearing bush in Newlands East on Sunday, to collect more bones and evidence.
Police retrieved more decomposed human remains after the Daily News noticed on Tuesday that some skeletal parts had been left behind, as had a piece of rope hanging from a tree above the body.
Apart from the bones, five items of women's underwear were scattered in the area, and there was evidence that drugs such as tik and mandrax had been used.
A bag was found with the skeleton containing medication, with a name on it, along with a newspaper dated September 2009, which together with the condition of the deceased, led police to believe the man had died about a year ago.
Menzi Ntinga, an employee of Rock Button Trading, which recently bought the land at the intersection of John Dory Road and Musa Dladla Drive (Newlands East Drive), found the skeletal remains.
Rock Button owner Nathi Shangase said his employees had reported several incidents to him and described the area as a "nest" of criminal activity.
Said one resident, who asked not to be named as she feared for her safety: "I have seen women emerge naked with scratches after they were raped, or someone tried to rape them in these bushes.
"We have told the police and asked them to do something but they have done nothing, at least the people who bought this land cleared some of the bush which has chased away some of the criminals and addicts who used to do drugs here."
Police spokesperson, Captain Thulani Zwane, said police were at first "unaware of any evidence left behind", but sent the investigating officer back to the scene after being alerted.
"The officers evidently did not see the bones, because they could have been hidden in the bush," he said.
Zwane said an inquest docket had been opened, but could not explain why a bright blue cap found nearby had not been retrieved.
Zwane said that the bones were thought to be of a man between 30 and 40, wearing beige pants, a blue jacket and brown running shoes. "We suspect that this was a suicide, because a piece of rope was found on the tree branch directly above, and another piece near, the corpse," he said.
Colin Gaillard, the councillor for the area, said he would raise the issue of crime in with the police crime prevention unit.
Police returned on Wednesday to the spot where the skeleton of a man was found by a worker clearing bush in Newlands East on Sunday, to collect more bones and evidence.
Police retrieved more decomposed human remains after the Daily News noticed on Tuesday that some skeletal parts had been left behind, as had a piece of rope hanging from a tree above the body.
Apart from the bones, five items of women's underwear were scattered in the area, and there was evidence that drugs such as tik and mandrax had been used.
A bag was found with the skeleton containing medication, with a name on it, along with a newspaper dated September 2009, which together with the condition of the deceased, led police to believe the man had died about a year ago.
Menzi Ntinga, an employee of Rock Button Trading, which recently bought the land at the intersection of John Dory Road and Musa Dladla Drive (Newlands East Drive), found the skeletal remains.
Rock Button owner Nathi Shangase said his employees had reported several incidents to him and described the area as a "nest" of criminal activity.
Said one resident, who asked not to be named as she feared for her safety: "I have seen women emerge naked with scratches after they were raped, or someone tried to rape them in these bushes.
"We have told the police and asked them to do something but they have done nothing, at least the people who bought this land cleared some of the bush which has chased away some of the criminals and addicts who used to do drugs here."
Police spokesperson, Captain Thulani Zwane, said police were at first "unaware of any evidence left behind", but sent the investigating officer back to the scene after being alerted.
"The officers evidently did not see the bones, because they could have been hidden in the bush," he said.
Zwane said an inquest docket had been opened, but could not explain why a bright blue cap found nearby had not been retrieved.
Zwane said that the bones were thought to be of a man between 30 and 40, wearing beige pants, a blue jacket and brown running shoes. "We suspect that this was a suicide, because a piece of rope was found on the tree branch directly above, and another piece near, the corpse," he said.
Colin Gaillard, the councillor for the area, said he would raise the issue of crime in with the police crime prevention unit.
- This article was originally published on page 9 of The Daily News on July 29, 2010
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