Police in East London have opened up an inquest docket after an Eastern Cape prosecutor was found hanging from a tree in Beacon Bay earlier this week.
Provincial police spokesperson, Brigadier Tembinkos Kinana, said police were notified early on Tuesday morning and later found the 47-year-old man's body.
He says the circumstances surrounding the incident are unknown at this stage.
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority identified him as Advocate Mzukisi Mapuma who worked at the Zwelitsha Magistrate's Court.
NPA spokesperson, Anelisa Ngcakani also confirmed that he was the prosecutor in the matter involving former Fort Hare University professor, Edwin Ijoema, who was arrested late last month on a charge of car theft.
He is also implicated in the alleged irregular admission and registration of two post-graduate students, including Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Mabuyane, who has been cleared by the ANC's integrity commission of wrong-doing.
Ngcakani described advocate Mapuma as a hard worker who was dedicated to his work and his passing will be a loss for the NPA.
