Burnt corpse: public appeal

2009-07-06 17:04

Johannesburg - The public has been urged to help police search for the missing head of a woman whose torso was found in a burning suitcase at the weekend, the Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities said on Monday.

Spokesperson Sibani Mngadi said the ministry condemned acts of violence against women and girls and described the murder as one of "grave concern".

He also called for the maximum sentence to be handed to those found guilty of the crime.

Police spokeswoman Eveline Hardaker earlier told Sapa that the woman's head had not yet been found and that no arrests had been made.

The burning suitcase containing the torso was discovered by a passer-by on a stream bank in Sunnyside on Saturday afternoon.

The body was found dressed in a white and orange T-shirt.

A day later, the dismembered arms and legs of the victim were found wrapped in plastic in a rubbish bin.

Anyone with information relating to this case can contact Inspector Andre Nel on 082-774-3394.

- SAPA