Macassar police have opened an inquest docket after a body believed to be that of 10-year-old Denecke Persence who reportedly went missing on Saturday (11 March), was found in the community earlier today (Sunday 12 March).
According to provincial police spokesperson FC van Wyk, local authorities were called to action after the body was discovered in a canal off Rembrandt Avenue in Marvin Park around 14:00 on Sunday. Van Wyk said the discovery was made by members of a search party, which was established after the girl’s alleged disappearance and who were conducting searches in the community since she was reported missing to local police the previous night.
“A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death and identify the body. Anyone with any information about the incident is kindly requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111,” urged Van Wyk.
News of Denecke’s disappearance initially became known after a missing person’s alert was distributed via social media, calling on the public to help track down the girl who was last seen in Zandvliet Way opposite the taxi rank around 14:00 on Saturday. According to the flyer description, Denecke who has long brown hair, brown eyes and a skinny build, was wearing a pink, yellow and white top with blue jeans and black sneakers at the time of her disappearance.
Reports of the discovery of a body presumed to be that of Denecke soon followed and sent shock waves through the community.
On DistrictMail & Helderberg Gazette’s arrival on the scene, scores of community members were gathered around the overgrown canal in complete disbelief and shock as authorities were finecombing the area for evidence and potential leads.
Crowds of onlookers including Denecke’s distraught family members remained on-scene until forensic pathologists apparently arrived around 16:00 and the body, which was completely submerged in water and pinned face-down by a tyre, was eventually recovered by 17:00.
