'Macassar is a dumping ground'

THE community of Macassar are outraged after the discovery of a still-smouldering body of an unidentified man, burned almost to ashes, on Saturday morning.

The pitch-black body was discovered by community members lying in a field along Kramat Road at around 10am.

When police arrived on the scene they found that the body was still burning. 

An image of the body shows the person’s body blacked out with only the feet visible and the structure of a body as smoke is seen leaving the deceased.

Police spokesperson Captain FC van Wyk confirmed that the circumstances surrounding this incident are still under investigation.

Van Wyk said: “Macassar police registered a murder case following the discovery of the burned body of an unidentified male on Saturday, 2025-10-04 at 10:00 at (the gravel road) Kramat Road, Macassar 

"According to reports, SAPS members were called out to a scene where the community discovered the body lying in the field that was set on fire. The members arrived and noticed that the body was still burning, the victim was already deceased and burned beyond recognition. 

"A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death. The circumstances surrounding this incident are still under investigation.”

Macassar community leader Christiaan Stewart said that this has been an ongoing issue in the community.

He explained: "We do not know who this person is. Macassar is currently a dumping ground where people are being killed in other areas and dumped here. This is the big tragedy we are sitting with.

"I asked that more cameras and lights be installed especially along Sandvlei Road because there is no visibility like CCTV cameras and we have a shortage of police resources. We also need a mobile police station in Macassar Village.

"I don’t understand why Macassar is not regarded as an emergency area because the bodies are being dumped here. We also found bodies along rivers where the person was half gone. It is terrible how things are in Macassar, we are sitting with a problem that needs urgent intervention.”

Police are appealing to anyone with information about this incident to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or use the mobile application MySAPS anonymously.