Two women, Tsakane Nester Msthini and Fortunate Masilela, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates' Court on September 21, charged with murdering Jabulile Ntimba. Her body was found in Villa Liza, Boksburg, on September 17, with multiple stab wounds and a slit throat. The two suspects were arrested by the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit along with a male suspect, who was later released due to lack of evidence.
The murder of Ntimba is one of nine cases of women killed in Ekurhuleni since July. The police have released the names of the victims, excluding two found in Olifantsfontein. The victims were all black women in their twenties or thirties, and their bodies were found in various locations, including Kempton Park, Rhodesfield, and Springs. Five of the bodies were found near the R21 highway, and most had visible injuries.
The police have made only one other arrest in connection with the murders, which was the partner of Busisiwe Mahlangu, whose body was discovered in an open field near the R21 highway in Kempton Park on July 15. Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili stated that the investigation into the murders involved forensic and data specialists, fingerprint experts, and intelligence officers.
Mosikili said that a third suspect in Ntimba's murder case was released after the 48-hour window to charge him expired without enough evidence. However, he remains a suspect and could be arrested if new evidence emerges. The police are still trying to determine if the cases are linked, and Mosikili stated that they are not discounting the possibility of a serial killer.
The discovery of a woman's body in Soweto on September 20 has extended the geographic scope of the cases beyond Ekurhuleni. The police have offered a reward of R400,000 for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the murders. Mosikili urged people to come forward with credible information to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
Mosikili also reported progress in gender-based violence cases countrywide, including the arrest of two alleged serial rapists in KwaZulu-Natal. The police have arrested 352 people in the last seven days for GBV crimes and 1,936 persons who were wanted for various offences as part of Operation Shanela.
Mosikili emphasized that preventing and investigating crime requires a coordinated approach beyond the police alone. She pointed to the importance of addressing risks before they become police matters and working with different partners to reduce crime.
Key points
- Two women have been charged with murdering Jabulile Ntimba, one of nine women killed in Ekurhuleni since July.
- The police are still trying to determine if the cases are linked, and are not discounting the possibility of a serial killer.
- The police have offered a reward of R400,000 for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the murders.
