Woman mistakes dumped waste for dead body as naked man flees scene
Panic spread along South Beach in La Mercy on Tuesday evening after a Johannesburg woman reported seeing a naked man allegedly masturbating over what appeared to be a human corpse.
The tourist, who was visiting KwaZulu-Natal from Gauteng, was taking selfies on the beach around 17h49 when she spotted the man standing next to a bag shaped like a body. Disturbed by the sight, she fled the scene and alerted staff at a nearby restaurant.
Reaction Unit South Africa (RUSA) was notified by a Tongaat businessman, who received a call from the woman. Officers responded swiftly, interviewing the witness and conducting a search of the area.
The suspicious bag was eventually located and found to contain waste rubber not human remains, as initially feared.
RUSA officers then searched for the man described by the witness. Local residents confirmed seeing a naked individual walking along South Beach Road, but despite efforts, the suspect could not be located.
Investigations are ongoing.