South African police announced on Saturday that a tenth woman’s body has been discovered in a Johannesburg suburb, intensifying an ongoing investigation into a series of killings across the Ekurhuleni municipality. Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni stated that while investigators cannot rule out the possibility of a serial killer, it is still too soon to conclusively link the latest discovery to the other deaths recorded in recent months.
Discovery of the Tenth Body in Tembisa
The latest victim was found on Saturday morning at a cemetery in the Tembisa neighborhood, located northeast of central Johannesburg. A friend who had been with the victim at a bar the previous evening identified the body by recognizing her clothing in a photograph shown by authorities. “I don’t know what I’m going to say to her children,” the friend told the national broadcaster SABC while wiping away tears. Crime scene investigators deployed to the area to gather evidence, and officials have not yet publicly identified the victim.
Investigation Into the Ekurhuleni Killings
Bodies were discovered in similar circumstances starting in July, primarily in the neighboring area of Kempton Park, according to police records. The finding of six bodies over a 10-day period earlier this month raised widespread alarm about a potential serial killer operating in the region. Most of the victims were young women in their 20s or 30s who suffered extreme violence prior to their deaths, with several found naked or partially clothed near open areas and main roads. Officers from the South African Police Service’s Investigative Psychology Unit, which specializes in complex or serial violent crimes, have joined the probe.
Police Response and Arrests Made
Authorities have arrested three men in connection with one of the nine preceding murders, while two women were arrested and charged last week with murder regarding the ninth body, discovered on Sept. 17 with stab wounds and a cut throat. Provincial police commissioner Lt. Gen. Tommy Mthombeni told SABC that investigators believe the ninth killing was an isolated case but noted that the other victims shared a “similar victimology” indicating a shared “modus operandi.” Meanwhile, three men appeared in court earlier in the week accused of involvement in one of the murders.
National Outcry and Femicide Statistics
The string of homicides has triggered a national outcry regarding gender-based violence in South Africa, which maintains one of the highest homicide rates. Between April and June of this year alone, 5,427 people were murdered nationwide, according to official figures. The South African Human Rights Commission reported that 569 women were killed and 1,052 others survived attempted murder during that same three-month period. These rising numbers have placed mounting pressure on the national government, arriving less than a year after ministers formally declared gender-based violence a national disaster.
Did You Know?
Organizations such as Missing In Southern Africa emphasize that there is no waiting period required to report a missing person to the South African Police Service, urging families to make reports immediately upon suspecting someone is missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bodies have been found in the Johannesburg area?
Police have recovered ten bodies of women in the Ekurhuleni municipality and surrounding areas north-east of Johannesburg since July.
Have suspects been arrested in connection with the murders?
Yes. Two women were charged last week in relation to the ninth body found on Sept. 17, and three men appeared in court earlier in the week accused of involvement in another of the deaths.
Are the police confirming a serial killer is responsible?
Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni stated that while similarities in victimology and modus operandi exist, it is currently too soon to conclusively confirm the presence of a serial killer.