The air in the restaurant is usually enticing with the aromas of seafood but not today. Now, the Ocean Basket in the Mall of the North in Polokwane is heavy with the scent of flowers that have been laid at its entrance.
And instead of the usual jovial, relaxed atmosphere, the mood is sombre as staff try to come to terms with the fact that the bubbly owner, Lizette Deacon (55), will never walk through the door again. And neither will her mother, Hettie (70), who was a co-owner of the restaurant.
The women were found dead in the boot of Lizette’s white Honda hatchback one night earlier this month near Chuenespoort Dam about 25km from Polokwane. Both had several stab wounds and their hands had been tied with cable ties.
