Residents in Manenberg, Cape Town, were left shaken on Thursday morning after the body of an unidentified woman was discovered inside a wheelie bin, abandoned in a canal along Duinefontein Road.
Manenberg commuters make horror discovery on Duinefontein Road
Commuters passing through the area noticed human legs protruding from the bin and immediately alerted authorities. Upon arrival, police cordoned off the scene as forensic teams removed the body, confirming that the victim was a young woman.
According to sources, the woman showed signs of strangulation and had an open wound on her face. Investigators believe she was killed elsewhere before being placed in the bin and transported to the dumping site under the cover of darkness.
The circumstances surrounding the murder remain unclear, but a post-mortem will be conducted to determine the exact cause and time of death. Police have urged members of the public who may have information about the woman’s identity or the events leading to her death to come forward.
What authorities know so far about the woman
While the victim’s identity remains unknown, early forensic assessments indicate she had been dead for several hours before her body was discovered. She was found wearing men’s boxer shorts and had short hair, making initial identification difficult for local residents.
Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that a case of murder has been opened. Authorities are investigating possible CCTV footage and witness statements to determine where the woman was killed and who was responsible for dumping her body in the bin.
Manenberg Community Police Forum (CPF) chairperson Vernon Visagie voiced concerns over the increasing use of wheelie bins for criminal activities, stating that they are frequently used to transport stolen goods and now, disturbingly, even bodies.
“The community is in shock. As far as we know, the victim has not been identified. This is another tragic case that highlights the need for stricter policing and random stop-and-search operations, especially when individuals are seen moving bins at odd hours,” he said.
At this stage, no arrests have been made, but detectives are following several leads.
A heightened police presence has been deployed in the area as authorities work to piece together the final moments of the woman’s life.
