The shocked sister of a Lamontville widow who was strangled and robbed in her home has described the murder as "well planned".
|||Durban - The shocked younger sister of a Lamontville widow who was strangled in her home and robbed of her car and other possessions has described the murder as “well planned”.
The body of Sylvester Lindiwe Dlamini, 64, was found inside her Mpanza Road home on Thursday morning by police officers, who had been alerted by a neighbour who had heard screaming and the screech of car tyres outside the house, shortly before 7am.
Speaking to the Daily News, Brenda Dlamini said her sister’s killer knew she lived alone in the house.
She said the neighbour had also contacted them, and they hurried to Sylvester’s home, about 3km away, arriving after the police.
“We would not have been aware that she was dead. I was shocked when I arrived to see police busy at the house, which had been cordoned off with yellow tape,” said Brenda.
Dlamini, who traded in clothing and footwear, was known affectionately in the neighbourhood as “Neutey”.
She was described as a warm, sweet person.
A family friend, Prim Maphumulo, said the motive for the killing could have been robbery because her Chevrolet Spark car, cellphone and other items were missing.
“Neutey often travelled overseas to buy big-name clothing brands for her business. People thought she had money because of her thriving business. The stylish clothes I am wearing were bought from her. She was a lovely person.
“Some neighbours said they heard screams coming from the house, but they quickly died down,” said Maphumulo.
SAPS spokesman Captain Thulani Zwane confirmed that police were investigating a case of murder and house robbery, but that the motive was not yet known. No arrests had been made.
nkululeko.nene@inl.co.za
Daily News