South African police have arrested three suspects in connection with the killing of a woman in Ekurhuleni, as authorities investigate a series of deaths that has heightened concerns over the safety of women in the area.
The suspects — two women and a man — were arrested in connection with the discovery of a woman’s body in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, last week. They were expected to appear in court on Monday.
Police, however, said there was currently no evidence linking the three suspects to the other killings reported in the region.
At least 10 women in their 20s and 30s have been killed in Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas over the past two months, prompting public concern in a country that continues to grapple with high levels of violence against women.
Investigators are examining whether some of the killings are connected, amid fears that a serial killer or group could be operating in the area.
South Africa’s Deputy National Police Commissioner, Tebello Mosikili, said authorities were determined to identify and prosecute those responsible.
“It is just a matter of time … until we take all those that are responsible for the killing of women across the length and breadth of our country to justice,” Mosikili said during a press briefing on Monday.
A 10th victim was found dead on Sunday afternoon in Soweto, within the Johannesburg metropolitan area.
Police have cautioned that it remains unclear whether all 10 killings are connected. However, authorities said investigators had identified similarities in some of the cases and advised women in Ekurhuleni to take necessary precautions.
Mosikili said investigators had yet to establish that a single individual was responsible for the deaths.
“The evidence that we have at this point, it’s still inconclusive for me to commit and say to South Africans, yes, we have 10 murders; there is one person responsible,” he said.
Police Minister Firoz Cachalia also said there was no conclusive evidence so far that a serial killer was behind the deaths, although investigators had not ruled out any possibility.
Six of the victims were found within a 10-day period this month, while four bodies were discovered within about six kilometres of one another.
Several of the victims were found in open areas close to major roads, adding to concerns over the circumstances surrounding the killings.
Investigations into the deaths are continuing as police work to determine whether there is a link between the cases and identify those responsible.
