Police have opened an inquest docket after a body confirmed to be that of a missing man was found in the upper part of Dummer Street, Somerset West this morning (Friday 2 February).
Identified as that of 58-year-old Hendrik Steyn, who had been missing since Sunday (28 January), the body was found in an advanced decomposed state in bushes on the arterial road of the Parel Vallei community.
According to Sergeant Suzan Jantjies, spokesperson for Somerset West police, officers were alerted to the discovery and arrived at the scene around 10:00. DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette stumbled upon the scene where the body was discovered by a young couple who alerted the authorities.
“The missing person, Hendrik Steyn, was found,” confirmed Jantjies. “The 58-year-old was reported missing on Sunday. An inquest docket has been opened.”
A missing adult-alert flyer calling for public assistance to help trace Steyn was widely circulated by the Pink Ladies organisation on various social media platforms by Monday (29 January). Apart from imperative details, including his build, weight, height, hair and eye colour and facial features, the flyer also stated that Steyn was considered to be extremely vulnerable and last seen in the Montclair residential area around noon on Sunday.
The latest discovery is one of two that sent shockwaves through the broader Somerset West community this week.
Steyn’s discovery was preceded by another in the early hours of yesterday (Thursday 1 February). Jantjies said: “On Thursday at 03:15, police officers were called by members of the public, who alerted them to a shooting incident in the parking area opposite the Somerset West Police Station. On investigation the body of a 58-year-old man was found. The deceased, whose identity is known by police, had succumbed to a gunshot wound to the head and was declared dead on the scene.”
DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette this week also reported on the disappearance of Grabouw resident Gert Minnie, who remained at large (“Soektog na Minnie duur voort,” 31 January).
The 56-year-old, who worked as a financial adviser in Bot River, and has been missing since last Thursday (25 January). Minnie’s unlocked vehicle, a Hyundai ix35, was found abandoned in a parking space along Clarence Drive near the Pitstop restaurant last Friday morning (26 January).
Lieutenant Colonel Pieter de Kock, a detective from Grabouw police who is working on the case, confirmed that the search for Minnie continues. He appealed anew to anyone with information that could lead to a breakthrough in the case to come forward and contact him on 082 469 7950.
