The mutilated body of a woman was found buried in a shallow grave near the popular Mphephu Resort last Friday.

The deceased was later identified as Ms Lufunu Ramabulana of  Dzanani Village.

The spokesperson for the Siloam SAPS, W/O Edzisani Tharaga, said her body was found in a shallow grave in a field near the Mphephu Resort. “It seems she was strangled to death,” said Tharaga. "A post mortem will determine the cause of death," he added.

Tharaga warned residents not to spread any rumours of a possible ritual murder. He said that people must stop pointing fingers. "Anyone with information regarding what has happened must just call the police and furnish us with the information. We do not even want those people to reveal their names. They must just call us and give us the information, and then we will investigate," said Tharaga.

The deceased’s right shoe was found more than 300 metres away from the scene where her body was found.

Her mother, Annah Ramabulana, said the family was very emotional. "We are worried and are traumatised about the incident. We are greatly saddened by her death," she said.

Lufunu will be buried at Dzanani on Saturday.