The South African police have confirmed that they have discovered the ninth woman’s body in the last two months. The spate of unexplained deaths east of Johannesburg is causing growing concern.
According to the police, the latest victim was found on Thursday morning by the side of the road in the Don Park area. The woman was half-clothed and had been wrapped in a sheet. The identity of the deceased has not yet been established.
This follows the deaths of eight other women, whose bodies have been found since July in various parts of Ekurhuleni – a large metropolitan area of Johannesburg.
Several women were found partially undressed and with physical injuries; however, the police note that they have not yet established whether all these deaths are linked or whether a serial killer may be responsible.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that the police will “investigate all possible leads” to find those responsible for the murders. He said these crimes “are sowing fear and uncertainty in our communities”.
Among the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth ‘Tsontso’ Moselakgomo, who went missing last week after leaving home to go for a run. Three days later, her body was found behind a hotel in Kempton Park.
The identities of two further victims were subsequently confirmed: Itumeleng Kekana, who had been reported missing since July, and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was found on Tuesday by the side of the road in Kwa-Teme.
The first of the nine bodies was discovered on 15 July in Kempton Park. Two days later, a suspect was arrested in connection with the case. He remains in custody, but the police do not link him to the other deaths.
The other bodies were discovered in August and September, specifically in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and Kwa-Teme.
Local media reported that the latest victim was a woman aged around 30. Her body reportedly showed signs of bruising and stab wounds.
The discovery has caused fear amongst local residents, particularly women, who say they no longer feel safe.
“We’re afraid to leave the house. We’re afraid to go to the shops. We no longer feel free in a country where, as women, we should be safe,” local resident Bongeka Sebela told the BBC.
The police have set up a multi-agency task force comprising detectives, intelligence officers, forensic scientists and other specialists. They are investigating the deaths and trying to establish whether these cases are linked.
Law enforcement officers are also searching for a person of interest in the investigation. However, they have not disclosed which specific case or cases this person may be linked to.
“Let us not give in to emotion; we are ready to take action,” said Panyatsa Lesufi, Premier of Gauteng Province, on Thursday. He added that the authorities have sufficient resources to investigate these murders. In a statement on Thursday, the South African police noted that the recent rise in the number of serious and violent crimes against women remains a “serious problem”. Law enforcement officials urged women to be particularly vigilant about their safety.
The police advise against walking alone or using deserted routes, to be wary of strangers and suspicious vehicles, and to inform loved ones of one’s whereabouts or travel plans.
Women are also advised not to listen to music through headphones at high volume, as this may reduce their awareness of their surroundings.
“Observing personal safety measures can save a life,” the police statement reads.
The authorities have offered a reward of 400,000 rand (24,000 US dollars) for information leading to the arrest of the suspects. The police have also called on the families of the missing women to help identify those who have not yet been recognised.
The discovery of the bodies has caused widespread concern in Ekurhuleni, particularly in the Kempton Park area. These incidents have occurred against a backdrop of long-standing concern over high levels of violence against women in South Africa.
The police do not link these deaths to the activities of a serial killer, but are considering the possibility that a group of people may be behind the murders.
Acting Minister of Police Firoz Kachali urged people not to jump to conclusions. He said that, at this stage, investigators are dealing with “quite different, individual cases”.
According to UN Women, South Africa has one of the highest levels of gender-based violence in the world. Women there are killed five times more often than the global average.
Last November, the country’s authorities declared violence against women a national disaster following an online campaign that culminated in protests across the country.