The discovery of another woman’s body in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has brought to 11 the number of women found dead in the municipality over the past 10 weeks, intensifying concerns over a series of killings in South Africa.
Police said Sunday that the latest victim was found in an open field shortly after midday after a security company vehicle passing through the area spotted the body and alerted authorities.
The identity and age of the woman, as well as the cause of her death, had not been established.
The discovery came a day after police were called to another scene in the same municipality, where a woman’s body was found near a cemetery.
Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni said the woman appeared to have been killed with stones. A post-mortem examination is expected to determine the exact cause of death.
Police said a man suspected of being linked to that killing was arrested almost 400 kilometres away after allegedly leaving the area.
His arrest brings to four the number of people currently in custody in connection with investigations into the series of killings.
Authorities, however, have stressed that the cases have not been formally linked.
The deaths have nevertheless attracted growing public attention, particularly as eight of the 11 bodies were discovered this month alone.
Police said several victims were found partially or completely undressed, while some showed indications of sexual assault. Most of the other victims were women in their 20s and 30s.
The investigations are unfolding against the backdrop of South Africa’s long-running struggle with gender-based violence, which remains a major national concern despite repeated government interventions.
The scale of the problem was highlighted by figures from the country’s Gender-Based Violence Command Centre, which received 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16.
The figure represented an average of more than 400 calls a day and a 21 per cent increase compared with the same period in August.
For investigators in Ekurhuleni, the immediate priority is identifying the latest victim and establishing how she died.
Police have not determined whether the 11 deaths were connected by a common perpetrator or motive. Until forensic examinations and further investigations establish possible links, authorities are treating the cases separately.
The uncertainty has heightened anxiety among residents as investigators continue to examine multiple crime scenes across the sprawling municipality.
The latest discovery has renewed attention on the safety of women, particularly in isolated areas, open fields and other locations that can become vulnerable sites for violent crime.
As investigations continue, authorities are awaiting forensic findings and pursuing suspects while families seek answers about the identities and circumstances surrounding the deaths of their loved ones.
