Cape Town – A pall of fear hangs over the Heideveld community as another body has been discovered at the abandoned "Creche of Death," a location increasingly associated with violence and tragedy. On Sunday evening, the remains of a woman, reportedly unclothed, were found at the derelict property, formerly known as Rainbow Educare, situated on Jonkershoek Road.
This grim discovery marks the second time in recent memory that a woman's body has been found at the abandoned creche. The building, now a vandalised shell, has become a hotspot for crime, casting a dark shadow over the neighbourhood.
Last year, the community was rocked by the discovery of Hilda Lewis, a 40-year-old mother, whose charred remains were found inside the same building. Lewis had been murdered and her body set alight with paraffin, a brutal act that left the community reeling.
The latest discovery has reignited fears and prompted renewed calls for action to address the growing problem of crime and violence in Heideveld. Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed that Manenberg police responded to a complaint on Sunday, 11 May 2025. "Upon arrival at a vacant structure in Jonkershoek Road in Heideveld at about 7pm, they found the body of an unidentified female," Swartbooi stated. "The victim was declared deceased on the scene by the medical personnel. The circumstances surrounding this incident are now under investigation." Manenberg police have registered an inquest for further investigation.
Vanessa Adriaanse, from the Manenberg precinct Community Policing Forum (CPF), highlighted the community's growing anxieties. She explained that the female's body was found by tenants in Heideveld, and that, according to community accounts, the woman was allegedly found naked.
"This is a big concern not just to the CPF but for the wider community because this is the second female body that was found in this vandalised building," Adriaanse said. "It is not normal to the community to wake up and find dead bodies anytime of the given day or night and then there is no explanation."
Adriaanse further explained that the deceased had reportedly not been living in Heideveld for very long. "It is known that the deceased was not living long in Heideveld and according to word of mouth, she has been in Heideveld for about a month and also had challenges with substance abuse and this vandalised building became home to her."
The location of the abandoned creche exacerbates the community's concerns. "The incident has put the community in panic because a lot of our people are passing this vandalised building early in the morning and late in the evening because it is situated in one of the busiest places in Heideveld where people need to get their taxis to go to town or work," Adriaanse said. "A lot of our school children pass this building so it is leaving a big concern."
The CPF representative lamented the wasted potential of vandalised buildings, which have become havens for criminal activity. "It is so sad that vandalised buildings have to go to waste and has become the hub where gangsters and people using substance abuse use it to do their things," Adriaanse stated.
The discovery has prompted renewed calls for local government to intervene and repurpose these derelict spaces. Vanessa is calling on local government to use these vandalised buildings and give it to non-profit organisations, churches or community organisations to be utilised or become a safe place.
The community is urged to come forward with any information that may assist the police investigation. Police are appealing to anyone with information to please call Crime stop on 08600 10111.
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