Body count rises in suspected serial killings near Johannesburg
Another woman’s body was found near Johannesburg, bringing to 10 the number of victims in a series of killings under investigation, South African police said Saturday, reports BritPanorama.
Police began investigating after the bodies of three women were found in July and August within about 4.3 miles of one another in the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg.
The discovery of six bodies in Ekurhuleni over 10 days earlier this month raised fears that a serial killer or killers were responsible. Two women were arrested and charged last week with murder regarding the ninth body, discovered on Sept. 17. The victim had been stabbed and had her throat cut, police said. However, authorities did not connect the two women charged to any of the other killings.
Provincial police commissioner Lt. Gen. Tommy Mthombeni told state broadcaster SABC on Saturday that investigators believed the ninth killing was an isolated case but could not rule out the possibility that some of the other cases were linked. Police have identified similarities in several of the killings but stated they had not found conclusive evidence that the same person or people were responsible.
All nine of the bodies discovered before Saturday were women in their 20s or 30s. Several were reported as naked or partially clothed and abandoned in open areas near main roads. Officers from the Investigative Psychology Unit, which specializes in complex or serial violent crimes, are involved in the investigation.
Police released limited details regarding the 10th body found early Saturday and did not immediately identify the victim. “We can only confirm the discovery of the body,” the South African Police Service stated. “Crime scene management and all the necessary role players are currently on the scene.”
South Africa faces significant challenges with high rates of violent crime and violence against women. The killings in Ekurhuleni have sparked a national outcry over women’s safety.
A chilling reflection of the ongoing struggle against gender-based violence, this situation underscores the urgent need for effective measures to protect vulnerable individuals in society.
