Police have arrested four men and are looking for a fifth suspect in connection with the body of a 29-year-old man that was retrieved from the Zion dam in Extension 6 on Wednesday 5 October.
Police have arrested four men and are looking for a fifth suspect in connection with the body of a 29-year-old man that was retrieved from the Zion dam in Extension 6 on Wednesday 5 October.
Four men aged between 22 and 38 are due to appear in the Grahamstown Magistrate's Court today in connection with the murder of Thembelani Qwakanisa, 29.
This morning a group of residents from various areas in Joza marched from Extension 9 to the magistrate's court in an effort to oppose bail being granted to all four suspects.
Police received a report of a body in the Zion dam on Wednesday. In a statement issued yesterday, spokesperson for the Grahamstown Police Captain Mali Govender said four suspects were arrested after intense investigations.
"Following an intense investigation by detectives from Joza [police station], four suspects between the ages of 22 and 38 were arrested [on Sunday, 9 October]in connection with the gruesome murder of 29-year-old Thembelani Qwakanisa. A fifth suspect is being sought," she said.
On Friday Grocott's Mail reported that the identity of the person whose body was found in Zion Dam in Extension 6 on Wednesday morning had not yet been established, nor had the cause of his death.
Community members said a man passing by the dam had seen the body in the water and told community members in the area.
Residents went to look and the police were called to the scene.
"The body of the man was wrapped in a carpet and floating in the dam. Nobody recognised the deceased (or knew) what could have happened," said a community member who wanted to remain anonymous at the time.
"That was really bad and I decided not to even come closer to see the body."
By the time Grocott's Mail reached the site around 11.30am, police had cordoned off the area from both ends of the bank.
In a statement on Wednesday, Govender said that at approximately 11am police were called out following a report of a body in a dam in Extension 6, Joza.
"The SAPS responded and police divers retrieved the body of a male wrapped in a carpet," Govender said.
The suspects are due to appear in court this afternoon, Monday 10 October.
anele@grocotts.co.za
