[imagesource: Sandile Ndlovu]

In mid-August, the community of Mthwalume (also referred to as Mtwalume in other reports) on KwaZulu-Natal’s south coast was living in fear, after the bodies of another two women were found.

That brought the total to five bodies in under four months, leading many to believe that a serial killer was on the loose.

Now the charred remains of a sixth body have been found, on the roadside in the area, by a man who was walking to work on Saturday morning.

It is believed that the body is that of a woman who was reported missing on Friday, says Area Community Policing Forum chairperson Lucky Bhuyeni, and residents fear the worst.

Here’s IOL with more from Bhuyeni:

“This community is traumatised and there’s fear in everybody who lives here. Even though it is too early to link this murder to those of the five women who were found between April and August, what else comes to mind when a body of yet another woman is found in the same area?

“This really needs serious attention and more resources are needed to put an end to this slaughter of our children and young women.”

Despite the gruesome discovery on Saturday, police in the area are still confident that the men they apprehended last month were behind the original five murders.

One of the two men is alleged to have confessed to four of the murders, but was then found dead in his cell. Here’s the Citizen:

Ipid [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] launched a probe into the matter after the suspect was found hanging from a showerhead.

It is understood that the suspect used a string from his tracksuit pants for the gruesome suicide. Medics declared him dead soon after he was found in holding cells.

The Ipid report concluded that foul play in the suicide was not suspected.

The remaining suspect will face murder charges in court, with the now-deceased suspect indicating that there may be further bodies to be found, before taking his life.

Bhuyeni says that a total of 14 women have been reported missing, with six still missing, six bodies found, and only two found alive.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Jay Naicker said that it appeared the person was killed elsewhere and then dumped on the side of the road.

Clearly, residents of Mthwalume are still fearful, and Bhuyeni appeared on eNCA on Saturday, to answer questions about the latest body, and the police’s reaction:

[sources:iol&citizen&enca]