South Africa Alarmed as Ninth Woman Is Found Dead in Two Months

Police in South Africa have confirmed the discovery of the body of a ninth woman in two months, amid growing concern over a series of unexplained deaths in areas east of Johannesburg.
The latest victim was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet beside a road in Dawn Park on Thursday morning, according to police. Her identity has not yet been released.

The discovery comes after the deaths of eight other women whose bodies have been found since July across Ekurhuleni, a major urban municipality in Gauteng Province.

Some of the victims were found partially clothed and with injuries. However, police have stressed that they have not established whether the deaths are connected or whether a serial killer is responsible.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that “no stone will be left unturned” in the effort to find those behind the killings, which he said were causing “fear and uncertainty in our communities.”

Among the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared last week after leaving her home for an afternoon run. Her body was discovered 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 discovered in Kempton Park on July 15. A suspect was arrested two days later in connection with that case and remains in custody, although police have not linked the suspect to the other deaths.

Additional bodies were discovered in August and September in areas including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema.

The latest victim is believed to be in her 30s and reportedly had bruises and stab wounds, according to local media.
The discoveries have sparked fear in the area, particularly among women who say they no longer feel safe.

“We are scared to come out of our houses. We are scared to go to the shops. We are no longer free in a country where we are supposed to be safe as women,” local resident Bongeka Sebela told the BBC.

Police have formed a multidisciplinary team comprising detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts and other specialists to investigate the deaths and determine whether there are links between the cases.

Authorities are also pursuing a person of interest, although they have not disclosed the case or cases with which the individual may be connected.
“Let’s not get emotional, the gloves are off,” Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said on Thursday, adding that the authorities had the capacity to deal with the killings.

In a statement issued on Thursday, South African police described the recent rise in serious and violent crimes against women as a “matter of grave concern” and urged women to remain vigilant about their personal safety.

They advised women to avoid walking alone or using isolated routes, remain alert to strangers and suspicious vehicles, and share their locations or travel plans with someone they trust.

Police also advised women against walking with earphones or earbuds at high volume, warning that doing so could reduce awareness of their surroundings.
“Practising personal safety measures can save lives,” police said.

Authorities have offered a 400,000 rand ($24,000; £18,000) reward for information that could lead to arrests. They have also appealed to families with missing relatives to assist in identifying the remaining victims.

The discoveries have caused widespread alarm across Ekurhuleni, particularly around Kempton Park, against the backdrop of longstanding concerns over 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 people may be 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.”

South Africa has some of the world’s highest levels of gender-based violence (GBV), with the rate at which women are killed five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women.

Last November, the country classified violence against women as a national disaster following an online campaign that culminated in countrywide protests.
Culled from BBC