Metrorail officers were greeting with a grizzly sight when the naked body of a woman was found burning on the Cape Town station deck.
The unidentified female was discovered on Tuesday afternoon after fire and rescue services responded to a fire.
Police have launched an investigation into the death of the woman, who was found in an unused part of a building belonging to the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa).
Officers were dispatched to the area after smoke was seen billowing from a small room.
The woman was found lying on her stomach, completely stripped. Her head, neck, arms and upper body and her left leg were on fire.
Metrorail spokesperson, Riana Scott, confirmed the discovery of the body, but said they do not have more information at this stage.
“Preliminary reports received from SAPS indicate that an inquest docket was opened by SAPS Central to investigate the case of the burnt body of an unidentified female,” she says.
“The discovery was made by Fire and Rescue Services after they were called to extinguish a fire in an unused building on the station deck.
“Other than the preceding, we have no further information on the incident and it is best to contact the investigating officer for status and progress of the case,” Scott said.
With regards to the abandoned building, Scott says Prasa has to follow due process with its management.
“Vacant Prasa property has been documented and efforts are made to either lease or develop these, depending on each property’s zoning and land use,” she added.
“The disposal/demolition of derelict state assets (including structures) needs to happen in accordance to certain process and permissions and any such process is also managed by Prasa’s regional property management division Corporate Real Estate Solutions (CRES).”
Police spokesperson, Captain Nolonwabo Tshengu, says a cause of death was still being established.
“An inquest was opened for investigation following the discovery of an unidentified body of a female that was found at Cape Town deck on Tuesday afternoon.”
Anyone with information about the incident can call Crime Stop at 08600 10111.