Mystery surrounds the murder of a Delft woman who was stabbed to death at a local mall.
The body of Chantel Dean, 38, from Leiden was found with multiple stab wounds on Wednesday night at the Delft Mall.
The mother of one had bled out from a deep wound to her neck and was found on a footpath.
Residents say Chantel, who worked as a domestic helper, was a friendly and helpful “community person” who used to run errands for mense.
On Wednesday evening just before 7pm, she was asked to go pay an account for one of her neighbours in Groot Street, where she lived with her seven-year-old son, her mother and sister.
Several hours later, the
security guard on duty at the mall saw a woman lying in the footpath, and alerted a colleague and the police.
Chantel was found dead, her eyes wide open and lying on her stomach in a pool of blood around her head.
Her worried mother and sister rushed to the scene and broke down when they realised it was her.
A manager of the mall who was also at the scene refused to comment or identify himself, and referred all queries to the police.
Chantel’s family yesterday went to the morgue to formally identify her body.
BLOOD POOL : Delft woman, 38, stabbed
Speaking to the Daily Voice, her emotional mother Charmaine said her daughter was a good person and they have no idea why anyone would want to kill her.
There was no sign of robbery as she still had the money and bill on her.
Chantal was also fully clothed, and they don’t
suspect she was raped.
“She lived to serve the community and worked hard for what she wanted. She never bothered anyone and gave everything of herself to help others.
“I just don’t understand why someone would do this to her,” a distraught Charmaine said.
According to security guards who viewed CCTV footage, the murder was caught on camera.
It is alleged that a man, accompanied by a woman, stabbed her to death.
The footage has been handed over to the police.
Deputy Chairman of the Delft CPF Jamiel Spannenberg, who was at the scene, said they will be working with police to help catch the killer.
“We are worried about the increase in fatalities in the area and also about the continuous attacks on our women,” he said.
Police spokesperson Siyabulela Malo says, “police found the victim with multiple stab wounds and she died on the scene due to her injuries.”
A case of murder is under investigation.
saafia.february@inl.co.za