A 21-year-old man is due to appear in the Johannesburg magistrate’s court today, after he was arrested in connection with the murder of six women who are believed to be sex workers.
Brigadier Brenda Mudirili, the Gauteng police spokesperson said the bodies of the women were discovered on Sunday.
“The police were called to the building due to the foul smell coming out of one of the rooms. That is when a body of a woman was found. A preliminary investigation led the police to the suspect, believed to be the last person seen with the…woman,” sais Mudirili
“It is reported that on the 2nd of October 2022 at 8pm, the suspect was seen with the…woman… Her body was discovered on Sunday morning. The clothes she was wearing matches the description of one of the missing person’s reported recently.”
Mudiril said the police then made another discovery.
“Upon questioning the suspects, the police went back to the building and five more bodies were discovered outside the building where there is a workshop and rubbish dumpsters. Unfortunately, the other five bodies were at a late stage of decomposition. They will be subjected to forensic analysis of identification,” she said.
“The suspect will be charged with six counts of murder. The provincial murder and robbery unit is investigating.
Residents who live next to the building where the six bodies of the alleged sex workers were discovered said they did not suspect any foul play despite picking up the foul smell.
Alex Dube, who is a caretaker at a building next door said he started picking up a bad smell last week.
“I did not think there was anything about the serious smell because there are many companies around here. I thought it is just waste from one of the companies,” Dube said.
He said on the spot where the bodies were found, there was a panel beating business.
“All we know is that there is a panel beating business there. We saw cars coming in and leaving. We know the guy that was arrested by police. He operated the business. We did not suspect anything,” Dube said.
Source: IOL, Eyewitness News, Sowetan Live, image from Twitter: @surgezircsa