South African police find a ninth woman's body near Johannesburg
Police are comparing evidence across nine deaths and have offered a 400,000 rand reward as investigators probe possible links.
- On Thursday, the South African Police Service launched a high-level investigation into nine deaths across Ekurhuleni after discovering another body in Dawn Park on Thursday morning.
- Victims, aged between 20 and 38, were discovered over the past two months in Kempton Park, Clayville, and KwaThema, with many found partially clothed or naked and bearing bruises.
- Three victims have been publicly named: Itumeleng Kekana, Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, and Dineo Evelyn Motapane. Authorities and the Democratic Alliance are offering a combined R900,000 reward for information leading to successful prosecutions.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on Tuesday that "no stone will be left unturned" to solve the killings, while Provincial Premier Panyaza Lesufi declared authorities "will push back" against the violence.
- Investigators are examining whether a serial killer is responsible, as South Africa faces endemic gender-based violence where one in three women experiences physical or sexual assault during her lifetime, according to the United Nations.
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Police have recorded at least nine cases that have a similar modus operandi in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng province, South Africa.
Women living in fear after body of ninth victim found outside Johannesburg
The discovery of the bodies of nine women in the same area on the outskirts of South Africa's biggest city, Johannesburg, in the last two months have prompted police to investigate if the killings are linked and being carried out by the same person. Women say they're living in fear.
The body of a ninth woman has been found east of Johannesburg, raising fears that a serial killer could be behind the deaths. "We are afraid to go shopping," resident Bongeka Sebela told the BBC.
Nine women have been found dead in the east of Johannesburg in the past two months, with police saying there are disturbing similarities between the cases.
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