Ninth woman’s body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

South African authorities have discovered the ninth body of a woman within two months in the region east of Johannesburg, heightening concerns over a series of unexplained deaths. The most recent victim was found partially clothed and wrapped in a sheet on the roadside in Dawn Park on Thursday morning, though her identity has yet to be released.

This follows the deaths of eight other women since July across Ekurhuleni, a major urban area encompassing Johannesburg. Police have not definitively established whether all these deaths are connected or if a serial killer is responsible.

President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged that "no stone will be left unturned" in identifying those responsible for these killings, which are instilling fear and uncertainty within communities. Among the victims is 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, whose body was discovered three days after she went for an afternoon run. Two additional victims have been identified as Itumeleng Kekana, who had been missing since July, and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was found on a roadside in KwaThema on Tuesday.

The first victim was found in Kempton Park on July 15, and a suspect was arrested two days later in connection with that case and is currently in custody. However, police have not linked this suspect to the other deaths. Investigations have been ongoing since August and September, uncovering bodies across Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville, and KwaThema. The latest victim is believed to be in her 30s and showed signs of bruises and stab wounds.

A multidisciplinary team of detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts, and other specialists has been assembled to investigate the deaths and determine if there are connections between the cases. Authorities are also pursuing a person of interest, though they have not disclosed the specific cases this individual may be linked to. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasized that authorities were prepared to handle the situation, stating, "Let’s not get emotional, the gloves are off."

In response to the rising number of serious and violent crimes against women, the South African police issued safety advice urging women to avoid walking alone, particularly on isolated routes, and remain vigilant about their surroundings. They also cautioned against using earphones at high volume, which could diminish awareness of one's environment.

A substantial reward of 400,000 rand ($24,000; £18,000) has been offered for information leading to arrests, and authorities have encouraged families of missing relatives to assist in identifying the remaining victims.

Though police are not currently linking the deaths to a serial killer, they are investigating the possibility that a group of people may be behind the killings. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia cautioned against speculation, stating that investigators were dealing with distinct, separate events. South Africa is known to have one of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) globally, with women being killed at a rate five times higher than the global average.

In November, South Africa classified violence against women as a national disaster following widespread protests.