Johannesburg - Krugersdorp was the scene of a brutal death at the weekend after a body burnt beyond recognition was discovered in a torched vehicle.
West Rand Cluster spokeswoman Constable Gloria Maswanganye said the corpse was found in a burnt Opel Corsa hatchback in the veld near the railway line on Saturday.
She said police believed the body and the car were set alight earlier that day.
“Krugersdorp SAPS are investigating a case of murder which happened in the early hours of Saturday in the bush next to the railway line crossing Monument Road, towards the R28.”
Maswanganye said a tracker company helped police make the discovery. This was as they notified authorities that the car’s battery was suspected of being tampered with.
She said as the body was so badly burnt, investigators were still unable to tell whether the victim was a man or a woman.
The motive for the attack is also still under investigation and no arrests in the matter have been made yet.
Maswanganye urged those who might have any information on the case to report it to the police. “Krugersdorp SAPS are appealing to the community to come forward with any information that might shed light on the incident,” she said.
The West Rand area has seen several murders this year in Krugersdorp and Randfontein, including those of insurance brokers Anthony Scholefield and Kevin McAlpine.
Scholefield’s body was found in the boot of his car. He appeared to have been strangled.
McAlpine was also found in his boot, just days after Scholefield.
Estate agent Hanlie Lategan’s body was found in the veld in the same area.
Four people, including an 18-year-old girl, have since appeared in the Krugersdorp Magistrate’s Court in connection with the three murders.
Community Police Forum (CPF) spokesman Pieter Sparks told The Star on Monday morning that the area was not necessarily dangerous and the recent killings were isolated incidents.