Mitchells Plain residents were shocked on Sunday when the half-naked body of a girl who had allegedly been raped and strangled was found in a bush in Weltevreden Valley.
The gruesome discovery was made by a resident who walked through the bush on Sunday afternoon and found the teen lying face down in the sand, tied up and covered in semen.
Lentegeur Community Police Forum (CPF) Chairperson, Byron de Villiers, says he was called to the scene on the corner of Weltevreden Parkway and Lords Avenue shortly after 4pm.
“A girl walking through the bush came across the body and got a fright,” he explains.
SHOCK: Lentegeur CPF Chairperson Byron de Villiers
“She came out screaming that someone was killed and police were called to the scene.
“It was a horrific scene and you could see the girl had been raped and her torn panty was on the scene.
“She did not appear homeless and was dressed well. It was a coloured girl between the ages of 16 and 18.”
De Villiers says on closer inspection, they found the girl had been strangled with a belt and gagged.
“A belt was tied around her neck and her hands were tied behind her back with laces.
“When the paramedics turned the body, as they were busy confirming that she was dead, you could see something was in her mouth; she was gagged probably to stop her from screaming.
“We are unsure of where she comes from and how she ended up in the bush as she was not identified on the scene.”
HOTSPOT: Teenage girl’s body removed in Weltevreden Valley. Picture: Leon Knipe
Police spokesperson Colonel Andrè Traut confirms: “The circumstances surrounding the death of an unknown female are being investigated after her body was discovered last night [Sunday].
“The exact cause of her death is yet to be established and the suspect is yet to be arrested”.
De Villiers says the incident has rocked the community.
“The community is in shock and that bush has been a problem for years, because the skelms who rob people use it as a hideout.”
Ward Councillor Joan Woodman says the land was sold to a housing company.
“I sent them an email explaining that the residents are angry. That land was allocated for housing and sold by the City of Cape Town, but now they want to sell it back,” she says.
COMPLAINED: Cllr. Joan Woodman
“I can confirm that residents have complained about that bush.”
Daily Voice could not reach the company for comment on Monday.