The body of an employee of the KwaZulu-Natal department of local government, housing and traditional affairs was discovered in his office on Durban’s Victoria Embankment on Tuesday morning, four days after he was reported missing by his family.
The department is in a state of shock, said its spokesperson, Lennox Mabaso, following the “gruesome discovery”.
Tebogo Mamatsi (48), a development facilitator, left for work on Friday last week and never returned home, police Captain Gugu Sabela told the Mail & Guardian Online.
Co-workers noticed a strange smell coming from his office and found him on Tuesday morning at about 7.30am, she said.
Sabela said Mamatsi’s face was swollen when his body was discovered, but declined to comment further until investigations reveal the cause of his death.
“We cannot confirm whether he was assaulted or murdered. We are also in the dark,” she added.
She did, however, confirm that Mabaso died in his office.
Police detectives in Durban are investigating the matter.
Mabaso, also a colleague of Mamatsi, said: “He was a charismatic guy who was very friendly. We indeed are very shocked at the gruesome death of our colleague. The entire department is. He was a humble guy.
“The minister [of housing] is shocked. Our condolence goes out to his family. The police must leave no stone unturned in this investigation.”
Mabaso said the mood in the office on Tuesday was one of “obvious shock and sadness”.
“People are feeling very down. You wouldn’t think something like this can happen here. No one has ever died in our offices. We are very much stunned,” he said.