A man has been arrested after the body of his wife was found by a river in Fisantekraal near Kraaifontein on Tuesday.
The body of Nosicelo Tsipa, 35, was discovered in a shallow grave after someone noticed her feet sticking out of the ground next to a river in Greenville.
Her body was partially burnt and it is not clear how she had died.
It is alleged that her husband killed her, put her body in a wheelie bin and took her to the river where he buried her.
She was found about half a kilometre from her home.
Yesterday, police forensics officers could be seen inspecting the bin at the couple’s home in Olea Street in Greenville.
According to a community source, the husband was jolling and his wife found out.
Residents say on Sunday, Nosicelo’s husband told them that his wife had gone missing.
A 45-year-old neighbour, who asked not to be named, says they can’t believe what happened.
“He told us she went missing at about 3pm and we started looking for her,” she says.
“He looked like a man you could trust, but now we know that in his heart he was a monster.”
She described Nosicelo as a neat housewife who was always nicely dressed.
“On Sunday evening we noticed the man taking his wheelie bin down to the river and we wondered why. We didn’t realise her body was in the bin,” says the neighbour.
“On Tuesday people called the police after someone saw part of her legs and her feet sticking out of the ground by the river.
“There were also burn marks on the ground next to her, like he tried to burn her.”
The neighbour says the couple share a 13-year-old daughter and appeared happy.
“Everyone is so shocked, after this we don’t know what man to trust anymore,” she adds.
Pastor Anthony Jonas of the Faith Worship Tabernacle Church says men in the community must work to regain women’s trust.
“We are going to work with the community to get them to trust men again,” he says.
Jonas says he will be arranging a meeting between the community and the police on Sunday to discuss the matter.
The suspect was arrested at the couple’s home on Tuesday night.
Police spokesperson Colonel André Traut confirms: “A 41-year-old man was arrested.
“Once charged he is expected to make a court appearance on a charge of murder.”
He said the exact cause of the victim’s death and the motive for the murder are yet to be established.