A vacant site in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain has been dubbed as a “dune of evil” by ward councilor, Daniel Christians, following the discovery of yet another burnt body in the area.
Three bodies have recently been found on the site with police spokesperson, Sergeant Twigg, confirmed that a case of murder had been opened following the discovery of an unknown male in an open field in Sea Otter Street on Sunday.
“Police were called to the crime scene where they found the victim burnt beyond recognition,” said Twigg. “The motive for the attack is unknown.”
“The suspect(s) fled the scene and are yet to be arrested.”
Rocklands resident, Irma Langeveldt, told News24 that she was on her way to the shops when she noticed what smelt like burning copper.
She added that it wasn’t the first body found in the area as she added that it was a place for gangsters to “do their stuff”.
“There have been three bodies found there that I know of… one was a baby,” said the resident. “It is a drug den, a dumping site, a hide-out for gangs, where people get raped and robbed. It is a crime haven.”
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According to Christians, gangsters often hid in the sand caves and informal structures, making the area a hotbed of crime.
“I have asked the City of Cape Town to have that dune removed since 2007, but there was backlash from some residents. The area should be removed to create living spaces for people,” said Christians.
“There have been bodies dumped, rape cases that took place, people have gotten robbed there, and yet movement to get the dune removed is painstakingly slow.”
Meanwhile, chairperson of the Mitchells Plain Community Police Forum, Norman Jantjes, said that the community were concerned by an upsurge in violence in the area.
“We can’t confirm that it is gang-related, but it appears that way. The way he was burnt, it seems like a crime of hatred or revenge,” he said.
“The burning of bodies are not a regular occurrence but this isn’t the first time – three bodies have been burnt in the last two months, of which two were female.”
“It’s a new thing, but it’s worrying in that it happened in a short space of time.”
“We want to come up with a comprehensive and integrated strategy to help us sort this violence out.”
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Photo: Cape{town}Etc Library