THE Cape Flats has become a dumping ground, with human bodies being discarded in horrific ways.
Crime groups and social media are flooded every week with bodies being found on open fields or bushes almost every day or every second day.
Criminals seem to follow the same modus operandi, as bodies are found gruesomely mutilated, burned beyond recognition or in a wheelie bin.
The areas commonly recorded with the highest body counts are the shifting dunes along Baden Powell Drive and in Mitchells Plain or in the reeds of Macassar. Some are just left on open veldjies - some still smouldering, some barely covered up.
On Monday, 17 November, Mitchells Plain police registered a murder case for investigation following an incident in Waboom Street, Tafelsig, at about 7.20am, where a man was found with parts of his face cut out and his pants pulled down.
On Wednesday morning, Harare police registered an inquest for investigation following the discovery of human skeletal remains in a shallow grave in Baden Powell Drive, Enkanini, Khayelitsha. DNA testing will be conducted to determine the identity of the remains.
On Thursday morning, 20 November in Lotus River, an adult man was found dumped in a wheelie bin in Stephen Road.
Hours later, Delft police registered a murder case for investigation after the body of a male believed to be in his 20s was found by a passer-by on an open field in Symphony Way, Delft. The victim was burnt beyond recognition and was declared deceased on the scene by medical personnel.
Earlier this year, Tafelsig mom Clare Swartz's body was dumped in Wolfgat Nature Reserve after she was stabbed to death.
These incidents give just a glimpse into the horror that our communities are facing in the Cape.
Meanwhile, the family of Susan Kok are seeking answers after the body of their 78-year-old mother was found dumped on an open field in Waarburg Road, Joostenberg Vlakte on 16 November after she mysteriously disappeared on 8 November while visiting family.
We spoke to South Africa's leading forensic pathologist Dr Hestelle van Staden about what leads criminals to desecrating bodies after killings.
After overseeing over 7 000 autopsies, Van Staden told the Daily Voice: “In my opinion, the reason why bodies are dumped and why criminals do so, is that it makes identification more difficult, which again leads to more difficulty in pinning down a perpetrator.
"Also, there are vast areas in SA which are quite rural and not densely populated, so a deceased person might be reported as missing, but the body may only be discovered much later.
“By that time, the perpetrator has had time to discard of evidence, move away, or move on to more victims in the case of serial offenders.
“Decomposition might mask trauma which again makes it more difficult to prosecute offenders, should they be caught. There might also be degradation of biological evidence on/in the body.
“A body exposed to the elements decomposes faster than a body which is buried. Not only does the weather play a role, but also exposure to insects and animals.
“DNA is always the best way to conclusively and scientifically identify a person. Newer techniques have enabled scientists to extract minute amounts of DNA, amplify it and to then get results.
“Fingerprints are also good, if still available, which is sometimes still the case. Dental records may be used by forensic odontologists to compare with post mortem dental records, although not very many people in South Africa have pre-existing dental records.
“The problem with all of the above is that one needs pre-existing records to compare with - there isn’t simply a DNA bank which one could tap into. Forensic anthropology might also be of value, although not definitive.
“The victim, perpetrator and environment are all factors/objects. And when any two ‘objects’ come into contact with one another, they leave evidence on one another. So, there should be evidence of the victim on the perpetrator and of the perpetrator on the victim.
“The same applies to the environment, so there should be evidence of both the victim and of the perpetrator on the environment and vice versa.
“So, there should be biological evidence, such as DNA from blood/semen/other body fluids depending on the case. There could also be clothing belonging to either the victim or perpetrator or even a weapon/weapons.”
Western Cape Ministry of Police Oversight and Community Safety Anroux Marais said the dumping of bodies is a priority and are treated with the utmost seriousness.
Marais explained: “The loss of human life under any circumstances is a matter of deep concern. This concern is compounded when perpetrators believe they can evade accountability by disposing of bodies in isolated or poorly-lit areas.
“Perpetrators often target isolated locations specifically because they believe that the likelihood of being seen, identified, or recorded is low. The repeated use of areas such as Macassar and the stretch along Baden Powell Drive underscores this pattern.
“Criminals deliberately choose these sites because they hope the bodies will not be discovered quickly, thereby reducing the risk of detection. A CCTV project along this route has been completed, with six cameras currently operational between Prince George Drive and the N2.
“While this is a significant step towards improving monitoring and deterrence, street lighting remains a challenge in certain sections.
“This calls for improved collaboration between SAPS, the City of Cape Town and community safety structures to plan together and make sure limited resources are strategically placed. Community assistance remains essential.
“Additionally, infrastructure improvements play a critical preventative role. Poor street lighting and insufficient surveillance infrastructure create opportunities for criminal activity. Urban design and environmental conditions plays an important role in crime prevention. We are aware that a CCTV project has recently been completed along Baden Powell Drive but it does not cover the entire stretch of road.”