Police say they have identified a link between the murder of Grahamstown schoolteacher Siphokazi Tom two years ago and a skeleton found this week behind Fort England Hospital in Grahamstown, according to Grahamstown police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender.
Police say they have identified a link between the murder of Grahamstown schoolteacher Siphokazi Tom two years ago and a skeleton found this week behind Fort England Hospital in Grahamstown, according to Grahamstown police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender.
On Monday evening, 10 August, a group of youngsters were gathering their herd when they stumbled across skeletal remains in dense bush behind Fort England Psychiatric Hospital, Govender said.
SAPS forensics combed the area for evidence that could assist in identifying the victim.
Personal possessions believed to have belonged to the person police were seeking in connection with the murder of a Grahamstown schoolteacher since October 2013 were found.
Siphokazi Tom, a Grahamstown church leader and schoolteacher then in her mid-40s, was attacked and killed at her home in D street at about 2am on 16 October 2013, while she was asleep, it was reported at the time.
Her 15-year-old son was in the house at the time.
No arrests were made. On 18 October 2013 Grocott's Mail reported that pupils and teachers at Fikizolo Primary School were reeling after the deaths of a pupil and teacher.
A man, reported to be a taxi driver, was said to have broken into Tom's D Street home before attacking her with a sharp object in front of her child, according to sources close to the family at the time.
Ethiopian Episcopal Church Reverend Velile Quza said he received a call in the early hours of the Tuesday morning informing him of Tom's tragic death.
After giving a statement to police, a small church gathering was organised, he said.
"We are shocked and devastated by this unexpected incident," Quza said in an interview shortly afterwards.
"It is a huge loss to our family and the church."
The reverend said he didn't foresee that something like this would happen to her.
Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said at the time that a case of murder was under investigation and that Tom had sustained several wounds to her upper body.
On 25 October 2013 Grocott's Mail reported on the memorial service held for her in the Grahamstown city hall, which was packed "beyond capacity" as more than 500 mourners and well-wishers celebrated her life.
