A Sun City manager was found strangled in her flat at the resort on Monday, on the day that a Fifa workshop started there, North West police said on Wednesday.
“The police found her on Monday afternoon… the woman was strangled with a telephone cord,” said Superintendent Lesego Metsi.
“There were some traces of blood in the hall and there was blood on her head and ears.”
The woman was identified as Colleen van Eyk, 60, who Metsi said was the public relations and marketing manager at the holiday resort.
Her body was found in her flat in the residential area for employees.
“She was alone during the weekend. There is no sign of forced entry to the premises and there is no indication that the motive was robbery,” said Metsi.
Sun City confirmed in a statement Van Eyk had “passed away” and that “the police are at this time treating her death as suspicious”.
The company said she joined Sun International in 1992 and her death had been “very upsetting” to her colleagues.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and assure them that we will work very closely with the SAPS [South African Police Service] to ensure her death is fully investigated.”
According to a police statement, a Soccer World Cup Fifa medical team workshop was being hosted at Sun City from February 15 to 26, with the main event happening on February 19.
On Tuesday, the North West police issued a statement to “reiterate our readiness ensuring that safety and security prevails during the games, starting with the said medical workshop”.
“Anything that may threaten the safety and security, or any criminal activity or behaviour, will be met with the full might of the law,” the police statement said. — Sapa