Cape Town - A search for alleged stolen items at a man’s structure in Westlake led to the discovery of Annie van Rooyan’s decomposed body under a bed.
For about five months the man allegedly attributed the sickening stench that his family and friends complained about to dead rats that he was struggling to find.
However at about 8.15am on Monday, the gruesome discovery was made in Flamingo Road.
The young mother, 33, was last seen on April 24 by her family going to a nearby shop. She never returned home.
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg said Kirstenhof police were investigating a murder case.
“Three suspects aged 27, 31 and 32 were arrested in connection with the murder,” said Twigg.
The men appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday where the case was postponed to next month for further investigation.
Residents rallied behind Van Rooyan’s mother, Marlene Van Rooyan who said she was shocked that the person who assisted in looking for her daughter was allegedly involved in her murder.
“My sister sent her to a shop (metres from) our house. I got worried later on... and started searching for her, but to no avail. Annie has a mental illness so she’s always under supervision hence I felt something was not right when she didn’t return home.
“The following day we went as far as Wynberg but found nothing. Accused number one, at whose place my daughter’s body was found, even assisted us in the search because he claimed to have been informed she was seen around Wynberg. He would also visit my son and spend time with him,” she said.
According to the grieving mother, a search for the accused brother’s work bag and items stolen from his father’s car led to the body.
“The brother asked one of his friends to enter the locked structure through a whole at the back and open it from inside. The bag was not there.
A neighbour investigated if it was really rats that were stinking and she lifted the bed.
At first she thought it was a big fish but when she used a torch because the room was dark she discovered it was actually a body.
I could only identify her through the clothes. He attempted to bury her because a hole was already dug.
However there was a lot of rubble which was the stumbling block. His family say every time they asked about the foul smell he would claim that the rats ate poison and died,” she said.
She added that a fourth suspect apparently fled to Swellendam.
“Her 16-year-old son is receiving counselling. We are all shocked and heartbroken at how she was brutally killed.”
A candlelit ceremony is expected to be held this evening in remembrance of Van Rooyen.
Cape Times