Cape Town – More than a thousand people attended a vigil for missing Rene-Tracy Roman in Lavender Hill on Wednesday night, where the community was urged to stay away from a house where the body of an unidentified female was found this week.
Police said an autopsy will be performed to positively identify the body, which was found half-naked, and the hands and feet tied.
The decomposing body was found hidden under a mat in a Wendy house in a backyard on Tuesday, two doors down from Rene’s house in St Agatha Crescent, Montague Village.
Lavender Hill residents came out in numbers to vigil. Picture: Bertram Malgas
On Tuesday night, police were called out after angry members of the community threatened to burn the house down.
On Wednesday night, Rene’s uncle Steven De Villiers called on people to remain calm until the identity of the body has been revealed.
The family was also upset after certain media reported the body was that of Rene’s, and asked journalists to check their facts with the family.
The 13-year-old girl went missing on Friday, March 10, when she went to a nearby shop to buy chips.
The body was found on Tuesday morning after the owner of the house noticed a stench coming from her backyard and asked a man to clean up.
Colin Louw, 33, said he unlocked the Wendy house to clean it when he discovered the body under a carpet.
The homeowner said the carpet went missing last week and she could also not find the house’s keys until Tuesday.
Rene’s stepfather Mervyn Jacobs on Tuesday told Daily Voice that they were not allowed to view the body, and could not say if it was Rene or not, “but there was a strong possibility” that it was her.
A female body was found on Tuesday. Picture: Bertram Malgas
The Grade 6 Levana Primary School girl was last seen wearing a pink sleeveless top, black tights and sloffies.
Neighbours claim the 58-year old homeowner’s boyfriend last week prevented police from searching the property, insisting they produce a warrant.
The man is said to have taken a taxi to Stellenbosch on Saturday to visit family and hasn’t been since.
A resident said Rene knew the man well.
“He always sent her to the shop, and she often went to that house to get movies from him,” she said.
Steven De Villiers appealed for calm.
“Please stop hurting and threatening the people at that house,” he pleaded.
Rene’s biological father, Eugene Jacobs, says he has not given up hope that his daughter is alive.
“We can just hope and pray that it’s not her. The search has not been called off and we will resume looking for her again today,” he told Daily Voice on Wednesday night.
Captain FC van Wyk said on Wednesday no arrests have been made yet in connection with the body.