‘Arm belongs to a woman’

The severed arm found at the Irene Country Club on Monday is believed to be a woman’s.

Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Marinda Swanepoel yesterday said that the slender wrist and fingers indicated that the limb was probably a woman’s. It was also estimated it had been in the water for about three to four weeks before it was discovered.

The Tshwane metro police’s mounted unit yesterday joined the search for the rest of the body.

Their horses waded through the Hennops River, which was clearly fuller than during Tuesday’s search, while several police units, including the water wing and dog unit, again methodically combed the river and the banks.

Swanepoel said the higher water level had made the search difficult and yesterday afternoon it was decided that the operation be continued today.

While on Tuesday the teams focused on the river flowing through the country club grounds, yesterday they moved their search to the waters outside the property.

The decomposing arm was found near the 11th hole of the golf course, lying in the grass near the river bank, the hand and lower arm partially in the mud.

An inquest docket was opened and search parties sent out.

It is believed that the arm was washed down the river by Sunday’s heavy rains, ending up on the bank where a groundsman made the grisly discovery.

l Anyone with any relevant information is asked to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. - Pretoria News