Cape Town - What was at first thought by Kraaifontein police to be the burnt out remains of a dog, turned out to be that of a dead man.
Residents in Petunia Street, Scottsville, says they were alerted to the remains by a stench that came from a concrete pipe on a field in Eikendal.
Shocked by the find, they called police. But the cops apparently thought it was a dog’s carcass and wanted to call the SPCA.
It was only after residents took a closer look themselves inside the concrete pipe that they discovered a human skull.
Resident, Frederick Jonkers, 49, tells the Daily Voice the dog was burn, but a stack of burnt clothing lying close to the hole made them suspicious.
“We decided to go and investigate because the police wanted to call the SPCA to come and get the ‘dog’, but we knew that the shallow grave held a body. The smell was overwhelming and it was clear it was not a dog’s paws, but a human foot, because it was too large."
“There was a metal rod pierced through the burnt body,” said Frederick.
He says they also found what looked to be a dismembered penis.
“That is how we decided it was a male. When we dug some more a man’s face was visible. Teeth were clearly visible and what looked like a gunshot wound as well,” says Frederick.
The police were recalled to the scene and it was cordoned off and a forensic team arrived soon thereafter.
Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut says: “This office can confirm that the circumstances surrounding a murder case are being investigated after an unknown body was found burnt beyond recognition in Memorial Park, Eikendal, Kraaifontein yesterday afternoon at around 5:15pm. No one has been arrested as yet.”