The body of a 28-year-old woman was found in her flat in Equestria, Pretoria East on Thursday, police said.

Inspector Michael Mbewe said the body was found with a rope tied around the neck and a hammer next to it, at around 9am.

"Nothing was taken from the house and there was no sign of forced entry into the flat," he said.

He said the woman was living alone and the motive was unknown for now.

Police had opened a murder docket and no arrests had been made yet.