A ninth woman has been found dead near Johannesburg, police said on Thursday, as authorities investigate a string of killings that have gripped the country over the last two months.
The latest victim was discovered in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg – the same area where eight other bodies have been found since July.
Police said the woman appeared to be in her 20s or 30s, similar in age to the previous victims, some of whom were found stripped of clothing and showing signs of sexual assault. Officers stopped short of confirming a definitive link, but said the pattern is under investigation.
“We were called here this morning after the discovery of yet another body of a young woman,” Deputy National Commissioner for Policing Tebello Mosikili told reporters at the scene. “It’s still very early to make any conclusions about this body.”
According to police, the body appeared to have been dumped at the location, suggesting the killing may have taken place elsewhere.
The series of deaths has sparked national alarm and renewed focus on South Africa’s femicide crisis. President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that “no stone will be left unturned” in the investigation.
Gender-based violence remains one of South Africa’s most entrenched social problems, with one of the highest rates of femicide in the world despite years of government promises to address it.
In Ekurhuleni, fear is spreading among residents.
“I am feeling a lot of fear and paranoia, especially for us with daughters,” said resident Nomgqibelo Tshabalala. “My daughter caught an Uber yesterday and I did not sleep worried and when I heard about this incident on the radio this morning I got even more scared.”
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