Police are investigating a case of murder after a popular Eastern Cape businesswoman and former deputy mayor was found dead in her house on Wednesday night.
Shirley Bosman, 59, of Amatolaview in Stutterheim, was alone at her house at the time.
It is believed that the suspects gained entry through a bathroom window and attacked her.
King William’s Town police spokeswoman Lieutenant Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed a case of murder had been opened.
Bosman, a former Stutterheim Transitional Local Council deputy mayor, ran a shop that mostly supported the small community of Amatolaview.
The family, through their spokesman Toney Plaatjies, said Bosman was found on the floor of her bedroom. Her face was covered with a cloth.
“We suspect that she was suffocated to death,” Plaatjies said.
He said Bosman was a teacher by profession and was well known in the community of Stutterheim for the role she played, both politically and in community work.
Bosman’s body was found by neighbours who were concerned after she failed to open her shop on Wednesday morning.
Her son Charles, who was away on work commitments, apparently phoned her but could not get hold of her.
“He had to phone a neighbour to go and check on his mother as her phone just rang unanswered,” Plaatjies said.
A close friend, Desiree Hart, said she had sent her son earlier to check on her but got a shock when she was told to rush to the house.
“We knocked on all the doors and windows for a long time but could not get any reply,” she said.
“We had to go around the house and noticed the thugs gained entry through a bathroom window.”
Former Stutterheim TLC mayor, Chris Magwangqana, said he was shocked to hear the news of Bosman’s murder.
“She was a leader who did not shy away from fighting, though some people from her community called her names,” he said.
“We will miss her.
“She was one of us and she juggled between her teaching job and her deputy mayor position.
“She was a committed person.” — bonganif@dispatch.co.za