Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths
South Africa police have cautioned against assuming that all the killings are linked but many women are afraid.
Ninth woman’s body found as South African police probe series of deaths
The latest body was discovered wrapped in a sheet beside a road in Dawn Park
South African police have confirmed that a ninth woman’s body has been found in just two months, as concern grows over a series of unexplained deaths east of Johannesburg.
Police said the latest victim was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet on the side of a road in Dawn Park on Thursday morning. Her identity has not yet been made public.
The discovery comes after eight other women died, with their bodies found since July across Ekurhuleni, a large urban area of Johannesburg.
Several of the women were found partly clothed and with injuries, but police have emphasized that they have not determined whether the deaths are linked or whether a serial killer is involved.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that "no stone will be left unturned" in identifying those responsible for the killings, which he said were "causing fear and uncertainty in our communities".
One of the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, who went missing last week after leaving home for an afternoon run. Her body was found three days later behind a hotel in Kempton Park.
Two other victims have since been identified as Itumeleng Kekana, who had been missing since July, and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was found by the roadside in KwaThema on Tuesday.
The first of the nine bodies was found in Kempton Park on 15 July. A suspect was arrested two days later in connection with that case and remains in custody, but police have not linked that suspect to the other deaths.
More bodies were found in August and September, including in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema.
Local media reported that the latest body is believed to be that of a woman in her 30s and appeared to have bruises and stab wounds.
Police have put together a multidisciplinary team of detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts and other specialists to investigate the deaths and determine whether there are links between the cases.
They are also searching for a person of interest, though they have not said which case or cases that person may be connected to.
"Let's not get emotional, the gloves are off," said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday, adding that the authorities had the capacity to deal with the killings.
Authorities have offered a 400,000 rand ($24,000; £18,000) reward for information leading to arrests and have appealed to families with missing relatives to help identify the remaining victims.
The discoveries have sparked widespread alarm in Ekurhuleni, especially around Kempton Park, and come amid long-standing concern over high levels of violence against women in South Africa.
Police say they are not, at this stage, linking the deaths to a serial killer, but are investigating the possibility that a group of people is behind the killings.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has urged caution against speculation, saying investigators were dealing with what appeared, at this stage, to be "quite distinct, separate events".