BLOEMFONTEIN. The Bloemfontein police are investigating an inquest following the discovery of a decapitated female body in a dilapidated building of the now defunct Mingles nightclub in Heidedal.
Sgt Mahlomola Kareli, police spokesperson for the Free State, said two young children playing near the vandalised building made the gruesome find. The woman has not yet been identified.
According to Kareli, the discovery was made on Friday, 12 September, at approximately 15:00. He said the two children noticed a body floating in the flooded basement.
“The body was found decapitated and partially submerged in water. It was in a state of decomposition, consisting only of a torso and legs. The victim was wearing multi-coloured leggings and a single Soviet-brand sneaker on her left foot,” said Kareli.
He said that due to the difficult conditions regarding the state of the building, the Bloemfontein Diving and Rescue Unit was dispatched to the scene to assist in recovering the remains.
He confirmed attempts to retrieve missing upper parts of the body resumed on Saturday, 13 September, due to the danger posed by hazardous black water in the building’s basement. He said water needed to be drained in order to continue searching for the missing remains. The building of the nightclub is adjacent to a fully operational fuel station.
This is the third time human remains were discovered in the basement of this building, which once was an attraction for entertainment in Bloemfontein. The vandalised building has become a site of hauntings, and the discovery of the decapitated woman’s body is additional evidence for such.
Another grim find in the building’s basement was a human skull in 2016, by workers.
Kareli said further investigations into the inquest, including the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death, have been assigned to the Heidedal Police Station.
“The police are appealing to the public for assistance from anyone with information in the matter that may help to identify the deceased,” said Kareli.
Any person with information they deem helpful can contact Capt. Jacques Wilson at the Heidedal Police Station on 082 553 6307 or provide information anonymously by dialling the Crime Stop number, 08600 10111; or through the My SAPS app.
