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 ten over the past two months. The semi-naked body was found near a cemetery in the Tembisa township. Police are working to establish whether the killings are connected, amid growing concern over violence against women in a country plagued by violent crime.
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 put on the case. The police have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers.
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 said that the killing may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa's second-largest political party, has put up a further $31,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers. 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 South African government reported that 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, a nation of 62 million people, has one of the world's highest murder rates, with more than 60 killings a day on average.
The police spokeswoman, Brigadier Brenda Muridili, confirmed the discovery of the body, saying crime scene management and all necessary role players are currently on the scene. The government has been criticized for its handling of gender-based violence, with many calling for more action to be taken to protect women.
The killings have sparked widespread outrage and concern, with many calling for greater action to be taken to address the issue of violence against women in South Africa. The government has pledged to do more to tackle the problem, but many say that more needs to be done to ensure that women are safe and protected.
Key points
- The tenth victim was found in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, bringing the total number of women found dead in the municipality to ten over the past two months.
- The police have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers.
- Gender-based violence is endemic in South Africa, with the national GBV Command Centre receiving 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16.
