Residents of Olifantsfontein in South Africa have held a candlelight vigil for a woman whose body was found floating in a river in Clayville, east of Johannesburg, amid growing concerns over a series of killings of women in the area.
The residents gathered at a police station before travelling in a convoy to the site near the Mall of Thembisa, where the woman’s body was discovered on September 7.
The victim, believed to be in her late 20s, has not yet been identified publicly.
At the riverbank, residents prayed, sang hymns and lit candles in remembrance of the woman. They also called on the government and police to intensify efforts to identify those responsible and ensure that those behind the killings are brought to justice.
The woman’s death has been incorporated into a broader investigation into the deaths of women whose bodies have been discovered in and around Ekurhuleni over the past two months.
Police are investigating possible links between the cases, which have heightened fears among residents of a possible serial killer operating in the area.
However, authorities have cautioned that there is currently no confirmation that the deaths were committed by a single perpetrator.
The investigation has expanded to cover nine women, with bodies reportedly discovered in Kempton Park, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, Rhodesfield, KwaThema and Dawn Park.
South African police have established a specialised multidisciplinary team to investigate the cases and determine whether there are connections between them.
Authorities have also appealed to families with missing relatives to come forward and provide information that could assist investigators in identifying the victims.
For residents who attended the vigil, the gathering served both as a memorial for the woman and a call for urgent action as anxiety continues to grow over the safety of women in communities across the area.
