What began as a frantic search for a missing Bellville woman has ended in heartbreak after the body of Chantal Pelser was discovered in a Cape Town guesthouse on Wednesday afternoon.
She was 52.
Pelser had been missing since Sunday, 25 May, after she was last seen driving her silver Hyundai i10 through the Bo-Kaap area around 13:00, reportedly heading toward Kloof Nek Road.
Days of silence
Her sudden disappearance prompted a desperate plea for help across social media, with family and friends describing her as vulnerable and urging the public to assist in locating her.
After days of silence, hope turned to sorrow when Pelser’s body was found in a guesthouse room, following a police investigation that traced her bank card activity to the location.
Emergency medical services and law enforcement were already at the scene when relatives arrived.
The news was confirmed by Beau Solms, the daughter of Pelser’s long-time partner, Linlee Solms.
“We’re still in the process of notifying the search agencies and asking them to call it off,” said Beau.
She and her mother are expected to officially identify the body on Thursday.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Fienie Nimb, spokesperson for the Bellville police, no signs of foul play were discovered at the scene.
“She checked in on Sunday. Her death is currently being treated as a suicide. Investigations are ongoing,” said Nimb.
Phone went offline
During the search, concern had grown after Pelser’s phone went offline shortly after she was last seen.
Her vehicle had not triggered any new entries in the License Plate Recognition (LPR) system, further complicating the efforts to locate her.
Non-profit organisation PinkLadies, which supports missing persons cases, had flagged Pelser’s case as high priority due to concerns about her emotional wellbeing.
The family and authorities await official reports and post-mortem results, but the early findings point to a tragic end to a case that had sparked widespread concern and community involvement.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health or emotional distress, please seek help.
Contact Lifeline South Africa at 0861 322 322 or the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) at 0800 456 789 (24-hour suicide helpline).
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