South African police probe killings of seven women, Ramaphosa vows action
Police have not confirmed a serial killer, but similarities in the cases have led to a public warning and a multidisciplinary probe.
- South African police confirmed on Thursday, September 17, 2026, that a ninth woman's body was discovered in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni, intensifying investigations into a potential series of killings east of Johannesburg.
- Following the discovery of eight other bodies since mid-July across Ekurhuleni, authorities launched a multidisciplinary task team to investigate whether the deaths, which show concerning similarities, are linked or the work of a single perpetrator.
- Police noted victims were found partially clothed with visible bruising, prompting the South African Police Service to issue warnings for women to avoid isolated areas. Authorities have positively identified only two of the nine victims.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa directed police to prioritize the investigation and leave "no stone unturned" in bringing those responsible to justice, while officials offered a R400,000 reward for information. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi called the discoveries "madness" requiring urgent action.
- South Africa's ongoing struggle with gender-based violence, which the government declared a national disaster in November 2025, frames these incidents within a broader femicide crisis. Activists argue the burden of safety should not fall on women, despite official calls for increased vigilance.
172 Articles
172 Articles
$24,500 reward offered for information on string of murders of women
Johannesburg police found another dead woman south of the South African capital on Thursday. It is the ninth woman to be found dead in two months – and no suspect has yet been arrested.
Kurier
Die PresseA series of murders of women shocks South Africa: A further body was discovered near Johannesburg on Thursday.
For the ninth time in two months, a woman has been found murdered in the same area east of Johannesburg.
berlingske.dk
BTFor the ninth time within two months, a woman has been found murdered in the same area east of Johannesburg.
Radio France Internationale
Ninth woman found dead in South Africa killing spree
Police have imposed a lockdown in Kempton Park in the Ekurhuleni municipality and officers mounted roadblocks after three of the partially naked bodies were found this week. "We cannot continue picking up bodies," deputy police chief Tebello Mosikili told journalists in Dawn Park, where the latest body was found on the side of the road. Police have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for any information that could lead to the arrest of the …
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