A 22-year-old woman was found dead near the University of Limpopo on Sunday morning. The woman was found along Sovenga Street at about 6am, with her head inside a trench next to the campus fence. Police spokesperson Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said officers were on patrol when they were alerted to the discovery and rushed to the scene. When officers arrived, they found the woman partially clothed.
A preliminary inspection found no visible external injuries, according to police. A bag containing the woman's identity document and NSFAS card was found next to her body. Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene and pronounced her dead. The police are yet to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
Police said preliminary information indicated that the woman may have fallen into the trench. However, the unanswered questions surrounding how she came to be at the fence and what happened before her death are now at the centre of the investigation. The police have not released the woman's identity, and her name will be made public once her family has been informed.
Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba confirmed that an inquest had been opened. The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the woman's death. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of students and residents in the area. The police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
This incident is not an isolated case, as police in Gauteng are also investigating the deaths of 12 women in and around Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. The police have reported that no link has been established between the cases. A 23-year-old woman was shot dead in Tembisa while reportedly on her way to work.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a 60-day audit of unresolved serious crimes involving women and children, including murders, attempted murders, rape and sexual offences. The audit aims to accelerate investigations and bring perpetrators to justice. The government has also implemented measures to fight gender-based violence and femicide.
The police are working to establish the cause of death and identify the victim. The community is urged to cooperate with the police and provide any information that may assist in the investigation. The incident has sparked concerns about the safety of women in South Africa, and the police are working to address these concerns.
Key points
- The police have opened an inquest into the death of a 22-year-old woman found near the University of Limpopo campus fence.
- The police are investigating the deaths of 12 women in and around Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a 60-day audit of unresolved serious crimes involving women and children.
