Body found in police station roof leaves officers stunned

POLICE officers and staff at the Hazyview police station in Mpumalanga were left stunned and horrified this week when the decomposing body of a man was discovered – in the building’s roof.

The body was removed on June 26. But this was after, according to a SAPS report, there had been an awful smell within and around the building block at Hazyview police station. 

Initially, suspicions were that it was possibly a dead animal somewhere on the premises that caused the unbearable smell. Searches were conducted, but no trace of a dead animal could be found at that time.

It was only quite a while later, on June 24, during the removal of some roof tiles, that the body of a man was discovered under the rafters. The body was in a state of decomposition, which would account for the stench.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the man may have been electrocuted. But the million-dollar questions authorities are asking are: how did he get into the roof – and why? 

According to Brigadier Donald Mdhluli, there were also some tools that were found next to his body, but at this stage, the man has not yet been identified and he remains unknown.

Role players that were part of the operation include detectives, the Search and Rescue team, the Mbombela Fire Department, the Criminal Records Centre, and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). 

The investigation continues.