Police find tenth woman's body in Ekurhuleni as South Africa probes killings

Discovery in Tembisa

South African police discovered the body of a woman at a cemetery in the Vusimusi section of Tembisa on Saturday morning, bringing the number of female victims found in the Ekurhuleni municipality since mid-July to 10. The victim was identified by a friend who had spent Friday evening with her at a local bar and recognised her clothing in photographs shown by authorities. Provincial police commissioner Tommy Mthombeni stated that preliminary evidence indicated the victim had been stoned to death, adding that a formal post-mortem examination would verify the exact cause of death. Crime scene specialists cordoned off the cemetery to collect forensic evidence, while members of the Investigative Psychology Unit joined the inquiry to evaluate behavioural patterns.

Pattern of killings in Ekurhuleni

The discovery follows a sequence of violent deaths across neighbouring townships east of Johannesburg, concentrated around Kempton Park and Tembisa. Investigators recorded three bodies between July and August within a seven-kilometre radius, followed by six additional bodies discovered over a 10-day span earlier in September. Prior to Saturday, all victims were women in their 20s or 30s, with several found partially or completely nude in open fields near main roads. Police noted that multiple victims had suffered blunt force trauma, physical restraint, or signs of sexual assault before their deaths.

Gauteng Police Commissioner Tommy Mthombeni addressed public concerns regarding the possible operation of a serial offender.

“For now, it's not something which we can overrule to say there's a serial killer, but we cannot conclusively indicate as such.”

Arrests and distinct investigations

Detectives have examined several individual cases within the cluster to establish potential connections or isolate distinct disputes. The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was discovered on 15 July bound with cable ties, leading to the arrest of a suspect two days later. The case of jogger Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who was last seen alive on 9 September in the Kempton Park area, drew widespread public attention across Gauteng. In a separate case involving the ninth victim found on 17 September with stab wounds and a severed throat, authorities arrested two women aged 31 and 38. Investigators confirmed that this ninth case appeared to stem from an isolated personal dispute rather than the broader pattern under review.

Official response and crime statistics

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the killings during an appearance on the campaign trail for upcoming municipal elections.

“This continues to make us very sad, and in many ways, it's a shame on the men of South Africa that we continue to kill the women of our beautiful country.”

The discoveries have generated renewed demonstrations, including a protest march held on Thursday where hundreds demanded immediate government intervention. South Africa recorded 5,427 murders between April and June alone, with national statistics showing an average of 15 femicides and more than 60 total homicides every day across the country of 62 million people. The surge in Ekurhuleni follows the national government's formal declaration of gender-based violence as a national disaster less than a year ago.