Johannesburg - An unpleasant smell led to police making a gruesome discovery of seven decomposing corpses.
Police in the south of Joburg discovered seven corpses aged between two and 50-years-old at a house in Vlakfontein.
The discovery was made when a community member complained about an unpleasant stench coming from a house in the area.
On arrival at the house, police found a pile of sand in the bedroom.
Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Mavela Masondo said a woman and three children were found buried underneath the sand.
Police proceeded to a backroom in the same yard where three more bodies, two female and a child, were discovered, and also buried beneath sand.
According to Masondo a man that had allegedly been staying with the deceased has been taken in by police for questioning meanwhile, police are also searching for a second man who could assist with the investigation.
Police are investigating seven cases of murder.