A woman abducted from her village nine days ago has been found dead in the bushes 2km from her Bell home near Peddie.
Police, who say she was raped, are looking for a 27-year-old man thought to have fled into hiding in East London.
Police spokesman Constable Mkhululi Mayoli said Maggie Yose was last seen the previous Saturday inside a village homestead hosting a traditional ceremony.
“The suspect is a young man in that home,” said Mayoli.
“It was during the night when his family caught him red-handed raping the victim, who is now deceased, inside his room.
“He later fled with the victim. We suspect a wheelbarrow was used to carry her to where she was found.”
Mayoli said it was still unclear how the mother of four was killed as her body was badly decomposed.
“We are now waiting for postmortem results to reveal how the victim was murdered.
“Our detectives have already visited the workplace of the suspect but were told that he had not reported for work,” he said.
During the release of the 2013-14 crime statistics National Police Commissioner Riyah Phiyega said sexual assault crimes in the Eastern Cape had increased by 3.4%.
Bell location resident Phumelele Hole said when Yose was reported missing residents had gathered and searched for her to no avail.
She was found on Thursday morning by members of the East London K-9 Dog Unit.
“An ID book belonging to the suspect was found at the spot where her body was found. This village has been plagued by crime lately.
“Stocktheft is rife and so is the rape of old women in their homes. Those who live alone are being targeted,” said Hole.
Police said they were hopeful they would make a breakthrough soon.
“We have opened a murder docket,” said Mayoli. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Abducted Peddie woman found dead
Police, who say she was raped, are looking for a 27-year-old man thought to have fled into hiding in East London.
Police spokesman Constable Mkhululi Mayoli said Maggie Yose was last seen the previous Saturday inside a village homestead hosting a traditional ceremony.
“The suspect is a young man in that home,” said Mayoli.
“It was during the night when his family caught him red-handed raping the victim, who is now deceased, inside his room.
“He later fled with the victim. We suspect a wheelbarrow was used to carry her to where she was found.”
Mayoli said it was still unclear how the mother of four was killed as her body was badly decomposed.
“We are now waiting for postmortem results to reveal how the victim was murdered.
“Our detectives have already visited the workplace of the suspect but were told that he had not reported for work,” he said.
During the release of the 2013-14 crime statistics National Police Commissioner Riyah Phiyega said sexual assault crimes in the Eastern Cape had increased by 3.4%.
Bell location resident Phumelele Hole said when Yose was reported missing residents had gathered and searched for her to no avail.
She was found on Thursday morning by members of the East London K-9 Dog Unit.
“An ID book belonging to the suspect was found at the spot where her body was found. This village has been plagued by crime lately.
“Stocktheft is rife and so is the rape of old women in their homes. Those who live alone are being targeted,” said Hole.
Police said they were hopeful they would make a breakthrough soon.
“We have opened a murder docket,” said Mayoli. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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