Cape Town – The body of Desiree Baartman, a woman from Gqeberha, was discovered by the police in a stormwater drain.
She had been missing since June 9.
The Eastern Cape police, along with the K9 Search and Rescue Unit and the Diving Unit, located her body 3.7 metres deep in a stormwater drain next to Standford Road near the Jagtersvlakte area on Tuesday night.
“At about 9pm on Tuesday night SAPS Betheldorp detectives with the assistance of the K9 Search and Rescue and Diving Unit recovered the victim’s body which was thrown down a 3.7 metre storm water drain.
“An autopsy will be done to determine the exact cause of death,” provincial police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu said.
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Desiree’s ex-husband, Johnny Baartman, 58, was initially arrested for attempted murder while she was still missing, but the charge has been upgraded to murder.
Johnny withdrew his bail application when he appeared in court on Tuesday.
He is scheduled to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.
According to the police, Baartman left her residence located on Nagel Street, Extention 29, Bethelsdorp, on June 9 at approximately 10:00 and did not return. Her loved ones and friends were unable to locate her, prompting them to report her disappearance on June 14 at the Bethelsdorp SAPS.
Naidu said that the couple were residing together in the same house, despite being divorced.
Over the past weekend, forensic experts from the SAPS conducted an investigation at the residence to search for any potential evidence. Based on their initial analysis, the husband was taken into custody for further questioning.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu