Tenth woman’s body found near Johannesburg in two months
AM730 · 3 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
South African police said on September 26 that a woman’s body was found in Thembisa, east of Johannesburg, raising to 10 the number of female bodies discovered in the Ekurhuleni area since mid-July. The latest victim was found near a cemetery and was described by one report as semi-naked, while police said she may have been killed with a stone, pending post-mortem confirmation. Authorities are investigating possible links among the cases, but have not concluded that all 10 deaths were caused by the same offender or offenders. The killings have intensified concern over violence against women in South Africa, where violent crime remains severe.
Key Points
- The latest body was discovered in Thembisa, in Ekurhuleni east of Johannesburg, on September 26, taking the total since July 15 to 10.
- Police spokesperson Muridili said officers could only confirm the body had been found and that scene investigations were under way.
- Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni said the victim appeared to have been killed by blows from a stone, though the exact cause awaits autopsy results.
- Earlier victims were mostly women in their 20s and 30s, with some found naked or partly unclothed near roads and other outdoor locations.
- Police said similarities exist in some cases, but the ninth case may be separate; two women, aged 31 and 38, were arrested over that killing.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the case is a stark reminder that personal safety risks can vary sharply by destination, especially in places already struggling with high violent-crime rates. It also shows how unresolved serial or potentially linked killings can quickly deepen public fear when victims are repeatedly found in open areas and investigators have not yet established whether the cases are connected.