A 34-year-old man has been arrested after the body of a woman was discovered inside a suitcase in a pond near a dumping site in the maize field area of Maletswai in the Eastern Cape.
According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the gruesome discovery was made on Sunday, March 15, 2026, when a young boy and his friends came across the suitcase and alerted authorities.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana says officers responded to the scene after receiving the report and called emergency services, who confirmed that the woman had died.
Investigators immediately launched a probe and assembled a multidisciplinary team that included local detectives, the District Murder Task Team and the K9 biological dog unit.
Through what police described as swift investigative work and the gathering of key evidence, officers were able to identify a suspect and locate the crime scene linked to the killing.
“Within 24 hours of the discovery of the body, the 34-year-old suspect, the boyfriend of the deceased, was arrested and is currently in police custody,” Gantana said.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Aliwal North Magistrate’s Court on a charge of murder.
Acting Eastern Cape Provincial Commissioner Major General Thandiswa Kupiso praised officers involved in the investigation for their rapid response.
“The quick arrest demonstrates our commitment to combating violent crime and ensuring that those responsible for such brutal acts are brought before the courts,” said Kupiso.
Police said investigations are continuing as authorities work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, including the motive for the crime.
IOL News
Wendy Dondolo
iol.co.za