The body discovered in a Bo-Kaap quarry Cape Town, WP has been identified as that of Anela Madikazi, a 29-year-old former model and aspiring actress.
Madikazi, who was last seen on August 18th, was wearing a light blue dress and a black leather jacket when she disappeared.
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Her body was found the following day around 5 p.m. by young boys playing soccer near Strand Street and High Level Road.
At the time of the discovery, her family was still unaware of her tragic fate.
Madikazi’s body showed visible wounds, and her dress was reported to be pulled up, indicating signs of violence.
Her family, who had been frantically searching for her for over a week, were devastated to learn of her murder.
Anela’s mother, Bulelwa Madikazi, expressed her shock, saying,
“Anela had been renting her place in Philippi but always made sure to video-call her niece daily. It was strange when she didn’t call that evening; my granddaughter tried reaching her but couldn’t get through.”
On the day she went missing, Anela was with her cousin, having earlier reached out for help due to troubles with her boyfriend.
Bulelwa recounted that her daughter and cousin had spent time at a pub on Long Street before visiting a friend of Anela’s, leaving him around 5 p.m.
Anela eventually left her cousin around 9 p.m., stating she was returning to her friend’s place.
However, after that, she vanished. Her cousin could remember the address but not the details of the vehicle or driver Anela had hired.
“When we went to report her missing, her cousin was also missing, and her phone was on voicemail,” Bulelwa revealed.
The cousin later posted about Anela’s disappearance on social media and broke down when confronted.
The family searched mortuaries in desperation and eventually found Anela’s body.
However, they were not allowed to view her face due to severe disfigurement.
Bulelwa speculates that her daughter might have been trying to escape danger, saying,
“I initially thought the driver tried something, and she might have jumped into the quarry.”
Marc Truss from the Cape Town Central Community Policing Forum suggested that Anela’s injuries pointed to gender-based violence, stating,
“It seems she suffered trauma, likely to her head, and did not survive the abuse.”
Police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed that the motive and exact cause of death are still under investigation, with a post-mortem set to determine the cause.
“Cape Town Central police have registered an inquest following the discovery of the body on Monday,” Twigg added.
Anela Madikazi had previously appeared as a model on the TV show Hair to the Throne and had dreams of making a name for herself in the acting world.
Her untimely death has sent shockwaves through her community and the entertainment industry, as friends, family, and fans mourn the loss of a promising young woman whose life was tragically cut short.
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