DNA samples have been taken from the family of a missing mother to ascertain if a body found on a field in Lotus River was hers.
The body of a woman, believed to be about 30 years old, was found buried in a shallow grave on a veldjie behind Plantation Primary School on Sunday.
The body was discovered by a member of the 6th Street Neighbourhood Watch, who said on Facebook it was that of mom of two, Abinese Bowes, 29, who went missing last Thursday.
However, a relative said yesterday they have not formally identified the body, and are still holding out hope that Abinese will be found alive.
The search for Abinese started on Saturday, when her ex-husband, Dwight Bowes, reported her missing to police.
But her family believes she had already disappeared last Thursday, which was the last time they had heard from her.
Family member, Waseela Simons, says the couple divorced in January, but were still living together. Their two children stayed with family.
“She divorced him in January and on Thursday she was officially moving out,” Waseela says.
Waseela says the couple’s children were yesterday taken to Tygerberg Hospital for DNA sampling to confirm if the body belongs to their missing mother.
She says the dead woman’s face was so badly damaged it was unrecognisable.
And although the woman’s hair did “look familiar”, they still have hope it’s not Abinese.
“We still believe she is missing. We do not know if it is Abi,” says Waseela.
“We know that she was officially moving out on Thursday and that is probably what caused an argument between them.
“We know it is all over social media and neighbours and people there tried to attack Dwight and his mother, blaming him and saying he had killed her, but for now, we just do not know.
“The children are devastated, but we patiently wait for the DNA results, which will come on Monday. We have hope.”
Police spokesperson, Lieutenant-Colonel Andrè Traut, says no arrests have been made.
“The circumstances surrounding the case are still under investigation and there are no new developments to report at this stage,” he says.