Luzuko Xalakhe, 28, an Eastern Cape resident temporarily residing in Verulam, embarked on an errand to have his hair cut in the Verulam Central Business District, on Sunday, 26 May, but went missing and one week later, his body was found in a drain in Inanda.
It is alleged that Xalakhe was tortured before he was murdered. Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) circulated reports of Xalakhe’s disappearance after they were contacted by his work colleagues when he failed to return on Sunday.
Balram said: “Xalakhe was temporarily residing in Verulam while undergoing work-related training. On Sunday, 26 May, at approximately 2.30pm, he utilised the services of an e-hailing company to travel to the Verulam CBD for a haircut. His work colleagues contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) the following morning after they discovered that Xalakhe failed to return.”
He said reaction officers made several inquiries with the public in the Central Business District and established that he was seen on the corner of George Sewpersad and Ireland Street at approximately 3.30pm on the day of his disappearance.
A missing person’s circulation was thereafter shared on the RUSA social media platform. According to Balram, a member of the Community Policing Forum (CPF) from Inanda contacted the Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) Operations Centre during the early hours of Tuesday morning after viewing the missing person’s post.
“The female confirmed that Xalakhe’s body was located in a drain in Ezimangweni. His injuries indicated that he had been tortured and murdered. The motive for the murder has not been established. Xalakhe was a resident of New Brighton in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The motive for the murder has not been established,” added Balram.
