South African police discovered the body of a woman in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, on Saturday, bringing the total number of women found dead in the municipality to 10 over the past two months. The semi-naked body was found near a cemetery in the Tembisa township. Police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed the discovery, stating that crime scene management and other necessary role players were on the scene.
The victim appeared to have been stoned to death, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the cause of death. Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni vowed to find those responsible for the killings, saying highly capable investigators have been assigned to the case. The police are working to establish whether the killings are connected.
The nine other victims were mostly in their 20s and 30s, with some found stripped of their clothes and showing signs of sexual assault. The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15. A suspect was arrested two days later, and two other suspects, women aged 31 and 38, were arrested in connection with the ninth victim and charged on Monday.
Police have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, while the Democratic Alliance, South Africa's second-largest political party, has put up a further $31,000. The police have suggested that the killing may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter.
Gender-based violence is endemic in South Africa, despite years of government pledges to tackle the problem and the declaration of gender-based violence as a national disaster. The issue has sparked widespread concern and outrage, with many calling for greater action to be taken to protect women.
According to the South African government, the national Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Command Centre received 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16, an average of 424 a day. This represents a 21 percent increase from the same period in August, when the centre averaged 350 calls a day. South Africa has one of the world's highest murder rates, with more than 60 killings a day on average.
The discovery of the 10th woman's body has added to growing concern over violence against women in South Africa. The government and law enforcement agencies are under pressure to take decisive action to address the issue and bring perpetrators to justice.
Key points
- The police are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers.
- The killings are believed to be linked to a relationship-related matter.
- Gender-based violence is a significant problem in South Africa, with high rates of murder and violence against women.
