Cape Town - The family of two Malmesbury sisters found bound and bludgeoned to death, said they found it difficult to comprehend their brutal murder.
Sophia Syster, 43, and Sylvia “Mietjie” Syster, 31, were found dead inside the Eatsumore Take-Aways in Main Road, Malmesbury, on Tuesday.
While one of the sisters was found bound and naked on the floor, the other was found partially hidden under a bed.
On Wednesday, the police could not confirm whether the pair had been sexually assaulted.
Anton Blom, the take-away’s owner, said they had been killed in a cruel manner, apparently with a hammer.
“I unlocked the shop at 6.35am and found the one lady on the floor in her bedroom.
“The place was in disarray.”
He said he was so shocked that he immediately called the police, not yet having seen the other woman under the bed.
Sophia had been working at the takeaway for 15 months.
Sylvia often slept on the streets.
“It was so cruel. I heard she was hit with a hammer.”
Blom said the perpetrators had come in through the shop’s ceiling.
“It is such a big shock to everyone.”
Charney Syster, Sophia’s daughter, said the family could not believe it when they heard the news.
“It was really difficult for us.”
“We still have to see the bodies, they have not completed the autopsies yet,” she said.
The last time she had seen her mom was on Saturday when she had told her that she would be going to the beach on Sunday.
Godfrey Fortuin, who has known Sophia for 15 years, said she had been his best friend.
“We planned to go to the beach in Paternoster on Sunday.
“Everyone is so shocked, something like this has never happened here before.”
Yellow police tape cordoned off the cafe as officers continued to scour the scene on Wednesday.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk said no arrests had yet been made.
Cape Argus