Authorities have launched an investigation after the body of a 52-year-old man was discovered under mysterious circumstances at his home in White City, near Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday morning.
According to Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA), emergency teams were dispatched to the residence at approximately 06:24 after the deceased’s girlfriend made the grim discovery during a wellness check.
RUSA paramedics found the man lying on his bed with adhesive tape wrapped around his neck. Blood was visible on his fingertips and under his nails. Additional strips of tape with traces of blood were recovered throughout the house, and a broken beer bottle was found in the bedroom.
The man's girlfriend told officials that she had been chatting with him via WhatsApp the previous afternoon, but the conversation abruptly ended around 20:00. After repeated calls went unanswered, she visited his home the following morning and found the gate and front door unlocked before discovering his body.
The deceased had been living with his elderly mother, who suffers from dementia and hearing impairment. Authorities say she has no recollection of the incident.
Police have confirmed that investigations into the cause of death are ongoing.