Cape Town - When Nothemba Ndondo left her Khayelitsha home on December 16 to make the long journey to work, it would be for the last time – four days later her body was discovered on a stretch of bushy land in Century City.
The young woman’s long journey to Ratanga Junction that day would come to a gruesome end.
Ndondo, 20, became the latest victim of a possible serial killer when her body was found dumped on land between Century City and Acacia Park train stations on December 19.
Five other decomposed women’s bodies have been found on the same land since February.
Due to the similar modus operandi, a special police task team is investigating whether a serial killer is on the loose.
Ndondo, who hails from Tsomo in the Eastern Cape, passed matric last year and started working at Ratanga Junction
last month.
Her sister, Belinda Ndondo, told the Cape Times that police had requested the family make no media contact.
A colleague who worked with Ndondo at Ratanga Junction said: “I met Nothemba a month ago. She was a cleaner and a mother-of-two, and had just finished school.
“Her life was finally moving forward when she got the job at Ratanga.
“We often had chats and laughed together, but on that Tuesday (December 16) she didn’t make it to work.
“Her sister Belinda then called us to say her body was found near the station after she was kidnapped on her way to work.”
Maggie Rowley, spokes-woman for Ratanga Junction and Century City, said: “It was with shock and great sadness that we learnt of the tragic death of Nothemba Ndondo, who was employed as a cleaner at Ratanga Junction.
“Our heartfelt condolences go to her family and friends, of which she had many at Ratanga Junction, and we are doing all we can to assist the family.
“We wish the police every success in apprehending those responsible for the deaths of the six women. In the meantime we have urged our staff using public transport to be extra vigilant travelling to and from work, and to preferably not travel alone.”
Previously it had been reported that the six women were all found face down in shallow graves, with their hands tied behind their backs.
However, a trusted police source, who had been at the forefront of the murder investigations, told the Cape Times on Monday: “There has been some confusion. The bodies were not buried at all. They were just dumped in the bushes. The killer did not even bother to cover them.”
The police’s Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Unit has taken over the investigations as all the women, estimated to be between the ages of 20 and 32, showed signs of having been raped.
The city has offered a R50 000 reward for information that will assist the police after mayor Patricia de Lille expressed grave concern about the murders. Police say to date nobody has come forward.
Asked if remaining mum about the date of the victims’ disappearance did not jeopardise the public’s safety, provincial police Commissioner Arno Lamoer said: “We have lots of people who go missing and we have to follow normal procedure.
“Everyone knows about these discoveries and with the most recent discovery we informed the public to be vigilant and careful.”
When the Cape Times visited Century City station on Monday one police officer, one security guard and two community policing forum members were patrolling the area around the station.
Langa residents Rikie Badi, 49, and Agrinette Bikitshi, 57, who came to shop at Century City, said they did not feel safe. “We are scared. We don’t know when the enemy will attack. It could be anyone. There should be more security watching over us here,” said Badi.
Kensington resident Shamiema Manie, 37, said: “I work at Century City and sometimes I have to work late. It’s scary to think there could be a serial killer around here. There’s never any security.”
Police spokesman Tembinkosi Kinana said there had been no developments in the investigation.
Kensington CPF member Quinton Langeveldt said Transnet had been clearing the bush on the land. “It’s good the land is being cleared, but our community needs more security in these parts.”
Cape Times