After a herdsman found a woman's body in the area, Mayfield residents have said that they are feeling nervous even inside their own homes.
After a herdsman found a woman's body in the area, Mayfield residents have said that they are feeling nervous even inside their own homes.
They say that there has been a recent spate of incidents in and around the neighbourhood and they are urging police to maintain a more visible presence.
A herdsman found the body of a woman on the commonage in Mayfield – north-east of Grahamstown – on Sunday 6 September.
Some parts of the woman like eyes and breasts were removed according to sources.
Police spokesman Captain Mali Govender said the man was taking his cows to pasture on the veld north of Mayfield around 9am on Sunday, when he came across the woman's body.
"[He] stumbled across the severely mutilated body of an adult female," Govender said. "The victim was found with a blue tracksuit top, black ankle socks and braided hair. She had suffered extensive injuries.
"Experts were called to the scene and they arrived within a short space of time. A post mortem will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death, the results of which will form part of the investigation," said Govender.
She said the age of the woman could not exactly be known but it was estimated between 25 and 35.
Govender said the police were extremely concerned with the murder of the woman.
"An incident of that nature extremely concerned the police and we would like to urge the community to be careful and take responsibility of themselves.
"Especially when something like this happens around the women's month, we really would like to urge people and especially women to take care of themselves because they are vulnerable people," said Govender.
She said if the community could come up with any information that could make it easier for the police to arrest the suspects.
A murder case was opened and Govender said the Joza police are urging the community to assist with information that could help identify the woman.
Any person with information is urged to contact Detective Warrant Officers John Manzana at 082 779 7117 or Kabous Lensley at 082 442 3747.
