Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

Ninth Woman’s Body Found as South African Police Probe Series of Deaths Police confirmed the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in just two months, amid growing attention to a string of unexplained deaths east of Johannesburg. The latest victim was found half‑naked and wrapped in a blanket on the side of a road in Dawn Park on Thursday morning. Authorities have not yet released her identity. The discovery follows the recovery of eight other women’s bodies since July across Ekurhuleni, a large municipal area of Johannesburg. Several of the victims were found partially clothed and bearing injuries, but police stress that they have not established whether all the deaths are linked or whether a serial killer is responsible. President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that “no chromatic volition beryllium near unturned” in uncovering those behind the killings, which he said were “causing fearfulness and uncertainty successful our communities”. Among the victims is 38‑year‑old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared last week after leaving her home for an evening run. Her body was recovered three days later near a building 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 discovered 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, though police have not linked that suspect to the remaining deaths. Additional bodies were uncovered in August and September, including in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema. The latest body is of a woman believed to be in her thirties and appeared to show bruises and stab wounds, according to local media reports. Police have assembled a multidisciplinary team of detectives, trauma officers, forensic experts and other specialists to analyse the deaths and determine whether links exist between the cases. They are also pursuing a person of interest, although they have not disclosed which case or cases that individual may be connected to. “Let's not get emotional, the gloves are off,” said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday, adding that the government has the capacity to deal with the killings. Authorities have offered a 400,000 rand ($24,000; £18,000) reward for information that could lead 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 against the backdrop of longstanding concern about high levels of violence against women in South Africa. Police say they are not linking the deaths to a serial killer at this stage, but are investigating the possibility that a group of individuals is behind the killings. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has cautioned against speculation, saying investigators were dealing with what appeared, at this stage, to be “quite distinct, separate events”.