The badly burnt body of a man was found on a busy street in the East London CBD yesterday morning.
Police made the discovery when they were called to Albert Street just after 7am.
East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said it had been found by a passer-by.
The deceased man was found lying face-up, on a pile of bricks and rubbish behind the Woolworths city centre store.
He has been described as a black African male, estimated to be around 35 years old. He was found naked with severe burn wounds and his body rolled in clear plastic.
“We were called to the scene by a security guard stationed in Albert Street.
“The deceased is still unknown. It appears he was assaulted before being burnt to death. He had visible injuries over his body,” Mqala said.
Preliminary investigations indicate the man was burned somewhere else and his body dumped.
Thembalethu Gangatele, the security guard who called the police, said yesterday there was no sign of fire where the body was found.
He said a passer-by had walked up to him and alerted him to the body.
Gangatele said when police arrived they cordoned off the scene with police tape and worked for about 45 minutes.
A state mortuary van was called to the scene and loaded the body for transport to the Woodbrook State Mortuary in West Bank.
Mqala said a case of murder was opened for investigation.
The discovery comes six months after a spate of murders of homeless people in the city centre. Six homeless men were brutally beaten to death between June and August last year. A seventh victim survived.
Although police took in a 38-year-old man for questioning in August, he was later released when he could not be linked to the murders. The cases remain unsolved.
In January Buffalo City Metro said CCTV cameras would be installed in the CBD and would be operational by December. The municipality said this would be a more permanent solution to fighting crime within the city and along its beaches. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
Man’s badly burnt body found in EL CBD
Police made the discovery when they were called to Albert Street just after 7am.
East London police spokeswoman Warrant Officer Hazel Mqala said it had been found by a passer-by.
The deceased man was found lying face-up, on a pile of bricks and rubbish behind the Woolworths city centre store.
He has been described as a black African male, estimated to be around 35 years old. He was found naked with severe burn wounds and his body rolled in clear plastic.
“We were called to the scene by a security guard stationed in Albert Street.
“The deceased is still unknown. It appears he was assaulted before being burnt to death. He had visible injuries over his body,” Mqala said.
Preliminary investigations indicate the man was burned somewhere else and his body dumped.
Thembalethu Gangatele, the security guard who called the police, said yesterday there was no sign of fire where the body was found.
He said a passer-by had walked up to him and alerted him to the body.
Gangatele said when police arrived they cordoned off the scene with police tape and worked for about 45 minutes.
A state mortuary van was called to the scene and loaded the body for transport to the Woodbrook State Mortuary in West Bank.
Mqala said a case of murder was opened for investigation.
The discovery comes six months after a spate of murders of homeless people in the city centre. Six homeless men were brutally beaten to death between June and August last year. A seventh victim survived.
Although police took in a 38-year-old man for questioning in August, he was later released when he could not be linked to the murders. The cases remain unsolved.
In January Buffalo City Metro said CCTV cameras would be installed in the CBD and would be operational by December. The municipality said this would be a more permanent solution to fighting crime within the city and along its beaches. — zwangam@dispatch.co.za
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