Tenth woman found dead in South Africa's string of killings

In the South African township of Tembisa, east of Johannesburg, police discovered a tenth woman's body on Saturday, escalating the grim toll of murders against women in the region. This grim total now stands at ten over the past two months, raising alarming concerns over violence against women in a nation plagued by violent crime.

The semi-naked corpse was found near a cemetery, police reported. Police are still investigating whether these killings are linked. The body has been confirmed, and investigators are on the scene.

Initial reports suggest the victim was stoned to death, but a post-mortem examination will confirm the cause of death. Police have assembled a team of experienced investigators to solve the case and bring the perpetrators to justice. The nine prior victims were mostly in their 20s and 30s. Some were found naked and had signs of sexual assault.

The first woman was discovered on July 15, naked and bound with cable ties. Two suspects were arrested two days later, and two more suspects, aged 31 and 38, were charged with the ninth victim's murder. Authorities suspect the killings may stem from a relationship-related dispute.

Police are offering a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, with the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's second-largest political party, contributing an additional $31,000. Gender-based violence remains a pervasive issue in South Africa, despite government efforts to address the problem and declare it a national disaster.

Recently, the national Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Command Centre received 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16, a 21 percent increase from the previous month. South Africa, home to 62 million people, has one of the world's highest murder rates, with an average of more than 60 killings daily.