Renowned cricket writer Peter Roebuck committed suicide in his hotel room South African police confirmed to AFP on Sunday. England-born Roebuck, 55 and a former first class cricketer, was covering the ongoing Test series between South Africa and Australia.
Captain Frederik van Wyk, spokesman for the South African Police in the Western Cape province, confirmed that a British citizen had been found in his room having committed suicide.
"I can confirm that the incident took place at a quarter past nine on Saturday (evening)," said van Wyk.
"A 55-year-old British citizen was found dead in a hotel room in Newlands, Cape Town. He was working as a cricket commentator for an Australian publication. He committed suicide.
"An inquest docket has been opened for investigation. I cannot say more at the moment."
He wouldn't confirm media reports that Roebuck was spoken to by local police earlier on Saturday and that people had seen him in an agitated state following that. Roebuck's identity was later confirmed to AFP by van Wyk's colleague
Colonel Vish Naidoo, though he would not comment on reports that the deceased had thrown himself out of his sixth floor hotel window.
"I can confirm he (Roebuck) died. The cause of his death is subject to enquiry.