By Nikita Chiniah
Malvern police are investigating a case of murder and house robbery after the body of an Escombe woman was found covered with stones, a mat, sand and her brother’s uniform at her home, last week.
Malvern SAPS Communications Officer, Sergeant Sthembile Kheswa said that the deceased, Evidence Ntombifikile Seager, 39 known as Zandile had multiple stab wounds on her chest and upper shoulder. “Her pants were removed, her underwear was partially removed and she had handcuffs around her ankles,” said Sgt Kheswa.
The deceased’s brother, Sifiso Gumede said that he is heartbroken and never expected to find his sister’s lifeless body in the condition that she way found.
He said: “We last spoke on the same day that she was murdered. I reside with my sister at our home in Escombe. I left for day-shift at around 5am and spoke to Zandile at 6am from work. She chatted to me on WhatsApp around 8am. I sent her a message at 4pm, but there was no response. After I completed my shift, I drove home at around 6:20pm and found that the main gate to our home was open. I also noticed that the garage door was broken. I walked around to the back of the house and saw my clothing including some items from my uniform strewn in the backyard. I entered the house and saw the entire house ransacked and concluded that there was a burglary. I called for my sister and searched throughout the house but there was no sign of her.”
He said that he noticed that the vehicle keys were taken, however the vehicle was still parked in the garage.
“My sister had two cellphones. I tried both but they were unreachable. I called Malvern SAPS and opened a house break-in case and filed a missing persons report on the same evening,” he said. He added that on the next morning, a Detective Commander from Malvern SAPS called to interview him regarding his missing sister.
Sgt Kheswa said that a 72-hour activation plan was put in place and the Dog Unit together with the other role-players went to the complainant’s home.
She said: “The entire house was flooded with water as the suspect opened the hose leading to the pool and let the water into the house. A knife was found in the pool. With the assistance of the tracker dogs, the body was discovered covered with stones, a mat, sand and even some items of the brother’s uniform. There is no CCTV footage but the neighbours were canvassed and were willing to assist police. Property that was taken includes cellphones, shoes, set of ignition keys for Hyundai Tucson and other items. The value is about R5000. The docket of house break-in was changed to murder and house robbery.”
The distraught brother, Gumede said that he wants justice for his sister. “I want the police to find the perpetrators and lock them up. The perpetrators of the crime must be sentenced and we must receive justice for what was done to my sister. It is extremely hard to believe that my sister is no more, I’m heartbroken, I never thought that my sister would leave us. My sister was a humble, loving person who always had a smile on her face. She was caring and loved her siblings and nephews to bits. She loved traveling, listening to music, reading books and newspapers,” said Gumede.
