KwaZulu-Natal police have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of a man’s body at the base of a waterfall near Cathedral Peak in the Drakensberg.
According to SAPS spokesperson Thenjiswa Ngcobo, the body was found on Wednesday at the bottom of a 40-metre waterfall along the Thonyelana River. The 39-year-old victim, confirmed to be a Lesotho national, had sustained multiple injuries. The motive behind the killing remains unknown.
Police teams from Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith K9 Search and Rescue, and Tugela SAPS initially responded to the scene on Tuesday but were unable to access the remote location due to the treacherous terrain. Assistance was later requested from the SAPS Air Wing in Pretoria.
Aerial support enabled rescuers to reach the site on Wednesday, following directions from a witness who had spotted the body. The same witness indicated the possible presence of a second body on a nearby ledge. Officers were hoisted to the area, but no further remains were found.
Investigations are ongoing.