This as a passer-by alleged to have been collecting cans in an open field along Constantia Road on Thursday morning made a gruesome discovery, finding a half burned body, with a tyre around it. Police spokesperson, Stephen Thakeng confirms that when authorities arrived on the scene before 08:00 am, the tyre which police believe was used to commit the murder, was still on fire.

Thakeng says the upper half of the body was burned beyond recognition. For now, the police are unable to confirm the gender of the deceased, who was wearing black jeans at the time he/she was brutally murdered. Necklacing is a form of torture and execution in South Africa, in which rubber tyres are placed over a victim’s arms, poured with petrol and set alight.

In October 2019, the Free State Police Commissioner, Moeketsi Sempe and the MEC of Police, Roads and Transport, Sam Mashinini, together released the crime statistics for the province for the 2018/19 financial year at the Metpol building in Bloemfontein. The province has overall managed to decreased the murder rate by over 5%, unlike the national murder rate which climbed over the same period by 3,4%.

The Thabong police station has been revealed to have the highest number of murders reported in the province over the same period, exceeding the number reported at Bloemspruit police station which falls under the Mangaung Cluster, for the first time in two years. 

This makes Thabong, the Free State’s murder capital.

OFM News