The burnt and shackled body of a man was discovered by firefighters responding to a blaze on the side of the M5, in Rondebosch East, Cape Town police said today

“There were burning tyres around the body, and a chain was tied around the right hand and right leg,” said Warrant Officer Robert Oakley.

Firefighters discovered the body while attending to a fire on an  open field just before 6am.

Police forensic teams and pathologists were called to the scene to assist in the investigation.    

Oakley said that a case of murder had been opened.