10 women dead in 2 months: South Africa probes possible links in Ekurhuleni killings

South African police on Saturday found the body of another woman in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, bringing to 10 the number of women found dead in the municipality over the past two months as investigators work to determine whether the killings are connected. The latest body was found early Saturday in Tembisa township, police said, without providing further details or identifying the victim. “At this stage, we can only confirm the discovery of the body. Crime scene management and all the necessary role players are currently on the scene,” police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili said. Local television station eNCA reported that the semi-naked body was found at a cemetery. Police began investigating after the bodies of three women were found in July and August within about seven kilometres of one another in Ekurhuleni. The discovery of six more bodies over 10 days earlier this month raised fears that a serial killer or killers could be responsible. Police have identified similarities in some of the cases but said they had not found conclusive evidence that the same person or people were responsible. Provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General 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. Two women, aged 31 and 38, were arrested and charged with murder in connection with the ninth victim, whose body was discovered on September 17. Police said the woman had been stabbed and had her throat cut. Authorities have not linked the two suspects to any of the other killings. Police said the ninth case may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter. The nine victims found before Saturday were mostly women in their 20s and 30s, according to police. Several were found naked or partially clothed in open areas near main roads, with some showing signs of sexual assault. The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15. A suspect was arrested two days later. Officers from the Investigative Psychology Unit, which specialises in complex or serial violent crimes, are assisting with the investigation. South Africa has high rates of violent crime and violence against women, and the Ekurhuleni killings have sparked concern over women’s safety. The country has more than 60 killings a day on average, according to the figures cited in the report.