Port Shepstone police divers uncover brutal murder of 18-year-old

The recovery of an 18-year-old murder victim’s body from the Mzimkulwana dam in Port Shepstone has shocked the South Coast community.

South African Police Service (SAPS) divers, assisted by the K9 unit, embarked on recovery operations on New Year’s Eve at the Mzimkulwana dam. The discovery of an 18-year-old male victim, wrapped in wire fencing and weighed down by metal sheets, was a particularly gruesome find. Once the body had been pulled from the dam’s depths, Port Shepstone police investigators sprang into action.

According to a statement released by SAPS, detectives managed to track down – and arrest – the suspected killer. Police have not yet released any further information relating to the case.

A similar discovery in nearby Magabeni

The discovery in Port Shepstone comes just two days after another diver-led operation, less than one hundred kilometres north, in Magabeni, uncovered the body of an ‘unknown male’. SAPS elaborated on the Magabeni operation, stating:

“Earlier today [29 December 2019] SAPS divers from DBN SAR & DBN Metro Police SAR recovered a partially decomposed body of an unknown male from the Ingane River in Magabeni area. 

A concrete cinder block was tied to the waist of the victim. A murder docket was opened for investigation.”

A number of December drownings in Port Shepstone

On 17 December, SAPS divers also responded to a drowning at the Umtamvuna River. Police revealed that the Search and Rescue unit eventually recovered the body of a 58-year-old man, near an isolated gorge approximately 15 kilometres upstream. While an inquest docket has been opened, no foul play is, at this stage, suspected.

On 1 December SAPS divers from Port Shepstone were called to assist operations in the Scottburgh area. SAPS confirmed in a statement:

“Port Shepstone Search and Rescue and K9 were called out to Scottburgh area for a report of a drowning in the Amahlongwa River. A dive operation was conducted and the body of a 9yr-old-boy was recovered.”