Cape Town — Police have arrested a man after he was found naked in a storm-water drainage tunnel holding what appeared to be a human skull, with a beheaded body later discovered nearby, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said on Sunday.
According to SAPS, officers at Thabure, Parkweg in Cape Town, were alerted on Sunday afternoon to reports of “a male person… seen holding what looked like a human skull, down the storm water drainage tunnel underneath Central Park Complex.”
Police said members “reacted swiftly,” and upon arrival found “an African male laying naked in the stream with the skull in his hands,” adding that he was “immediately placed under arrest.”
#sapsFS The police at Thabure, Parkweg were alerted to a situation where a male person was seen holding what looked like human skull, down the storm water drainage tunnel underneath Central Park Complex this afternoon. Members reacted swiftly, and an African male was found laying… pic.twitter.com/3OS1M2PY3z
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) December 20, 2025
SAPS said further information indicated that “an unknown male attacked another person down the stream,” prompting officers to conduct a search along the watercourse adjacent to the N8 national road.
“The search was conducted along the stream on the side of N8 National Road where the beheaded body was found,” police said.
The circumstances surrounding the incident are under investigation. Police have not yet released details about the identity of the deceased or the suspect, nor whether charges have been formally laid.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is urged to contact SAPS or their nearest police station.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
