Ninth woman found dead in South Africa killing spree

A series of murders in South Africa has claimed the ninth victim in two months, prompting police to impose a lockdown in Kempton Park, near Johannesburg. The deputy police chief announced a reward of 400,000 rand (£25,000) for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, with the Democratic Alliance offering an additional 31,000 dollars. Deputy Mosikili stated they cannot continue finding bodies and are investigating whether the latest discovery is linked to the earlier cases or if it is a copycat.

One of the victims, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, was found dead on September 12 after leaving her daughter at home for a jog. Her case sparked a social media campaign by fellow runners, drawing attention to earlier incidents and prompting further discoveries of bodies. The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15, leading to the arrest of a suspect, a foreigner, who appeared in court on Wednesday.

The second victim, a 32-year-old woman, was discovered partially clothed on August 24, and the third was found naked and decomposed on September 10. Deputy Mosikili emphasized that gender-based violence is rampant in South Africa, with one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence during her lifetime, despite government efforts to address the issue.