Cops are investigating the brutal murders of two women whose bodies were found on the same day in Blue Downs.
One of the women is 18-year-old Vernoreen Jakobus, who was pregnant with her second child.
Vernoreen has a two-year-old son, named Sergio.
Her family says on 8 September residents, who were searching for a missing child, stumbled upon her body on a field in Coniface Road in Blue Downs.
The next day, the family was informed that her body had been found and that she had been strangled to death with a towel.
Her mother, Celeste Jakobus, 40, says they were shocked to learn that the teen had been pregnant.
She admits her daughter was a stroller who would stay away from home for days.
Family members last saw her on Wednesday, 5 September.
SHOCK: Celeste Jakobus, 40, was unaware her murdered teen daughter was pregnant. Picture: Jack Lestrade
“The detective came to my home just before 9am on Monday and had photographs with him, which he showed us,” she explains.
“He said they believe she was choked or strangled to death with a towel.
“We are unsure of further details until a post-mortem is done.
“We identified her body on Thursday at the mortuary.
“We never even knew she was pregnant.
“It was the police who told us she was pregnant and we don’t know how far along she was in the pregnancy.”
Vernoreen’s aunt, Gladys Damons, 75, says they have no idea who could be behind the teen’s murder.
“With all of these murders happening, we are calling on the government to do something and bring back the death penalty,” she said.
“That is the solution for all of these murders”.
The family claims a man was taken in for questioning and later released.
The open field where 18-year-old Vernoreen Jakobus' body was found. Picture: Jack Lestrade
Police spokesperson, Sergeant Noloyiso Rwexana, confirms: “A case of murder has been opened for investigation after a body of an 18-year-old girl was found on an open field at about 5pm.
“Circumstances surrounding this incident are under investigation with no arrests so far.”
Meanwhile, police say the woman whose body was found in Greenfields Road near the courthouse has yet to be identified.
Constable Sandiswa Belinda Saula says a case of murder has been opened for investigation with no arrests so far.