Watch: Body found at base of Drakensberg waterfall, murder probe launched
The Witness reports that on Wednesday morning, Pietermaritzburg Search and Rescue, Pietermaritzburg K9 Search and Rescue and Ladysmith K9 members were called out to assist the Upper Tugela police.
The teams were tasked with the recovery of a body in the Drakensberg area below Cathedral Peak.
According to a statement, due to the difficult and inaccessible terrain, arrangements were made by the uTugela District Office for assistance from the Pretoria Air Wing Unit.
Members were airlifted to the area pointed out by the person who discovered a body in the Thonyelana River, at the base of a 40m waterfall.
The witness said he suspected there was a second victim on a ledge, approximately 30m from the base of the waterfall.
Rescue team members were hoisted onto the ledge and conducted a search, discovering clothing on the ledge, but no second victim was found.
The body of a 39-year-old Lesotho national was recovered from the river, airlifted to the nearest accessible road and handed over to members of the Department of Health.
Police spokesperson Contable Thenjiswa Ngcobo confirmed the rescue had taken place and that a murder investigation had been opened.
'The victim sustained multiple injuries [to his] body,' Ngcobo says.
The motive for the killing is yet to be established.
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