Police in Verulam have opened an inquest docket after the body of an unknown woman was found in an abandoned house on Ireland Street on Tuesday, 11 July.
Although the circumstances surrounding her death are still unclear, Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) claims that the victim may have been a drug addict who was seeking shelter in the abandoned home. Head of RUSA, Prem Balram said the deceased woman was discovered by a scrap collector who alerted them to the gruesome find.
He said: “A member of Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) was flagged down by the scrap collector who made the discovery at approximately 9am. RUSA medics were requested at the scene and located the female in the basement. She showed no signs of life and was declared deceased. Circumstances leading up to her death are yet to be established. It is alleged that the deceased was a heroin addict who was among several drug addicts who squatted in the abandoned property.”
Police spokesperson in Verulam Constable Bongiwe Ngcobo said: “Our police officers attended the scene. An inquest docket has been opened for further investigation and to identify the deceased.”
Meanwhile, Metro Police in conjunction with Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA), Durban Central SAPS, Department of Social Development among others participated in a multidisciplinary clean-up operation under the M4 Bridge in a bid to remove the vagrants that are seeking shelter there.
The spokesperson for eThekwini Metro Police, Colonel Boysie Zungu said the aim of the operation was to get rid of the vagrants who are always involved in drugs. The clean-up operation was part of eThekwini’s clean my City project – aimed at keeping the City clean.
