South African police have recovered the body of a ninth woman in the east of Johannesburg, as a string of killings over the past two months continues to spark fear among residents.
The latest discovery was made on Thursday in Boksburg, with police investigating whether the killing is connected to eight other cases recorded in the area since July or could be the work of a copycat.
The bodies of the women, some found partially naked and showing signs of assault, have raised fears that a serial killer or group of killers could be operating in the area.
Police have imposed a lockdown in Kempton Park, within the Ekurhuleni municipality, and mounted roadblocks following the discovery of three bodies this week.
At the latest crime scene, forensic officers in protective suits examined the area while the victim’s body remained covered beside the road.
“We cannot continue picking up bodies,” deputy police chief Tebello Mosikili told journalists at the scene.
Residents have expressed growing concern over their safety.
“This is very scary… because you can say us as woman and children are no longer safe,” resident Patience Masa said.
Another resident, Zanele Vilakazi, said the killings had made her feel unsafe, adding, “I told someone on the phone that, I don’t feel safe, for this to happen in the morning, so we are not safe.”
Police have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, while South Africa’s Democratic Alliance has offered an additional $31,000.
Mosikili said investigators would determine whether Thursday’s discovery was linked to the previous killings or represented a copycat case.
One of the victims, 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, disappeared after leaving home for a jog. Her body was found behind a hotel on September 12.
Her case attracted widespread attention after fellow runners launched a social media campaign to locate her, bringing renewed focus to previous cases and subsequent discoveries.
The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15. Police said a suspect was arrested two days later and appeared in court on Wednesday.
The suspect, identified by police as a foreign national, has not been publicly linked to all the killings.
South Africa continues to grapple with high levels of gender-based violence. The United Nations says one in three women in the country experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.
Gauteng Provincial Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the authorities would respond forcefully to the killings.
“Someone has declared war against us, and we will push back, we are not going to surrender,” he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also pledged that “no stone will be left unturned” in efforts to solve the killings, saying the incidents were causing “fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women”.
The cases have prompted renewed calls from civil society groups and sporting organisations for stronger action against gender-based violence, which South Africa has declared a national emergency.
