South Africa: new body discovered in Ekurhuleni brings number of women killed to ten

A new body was found on Saturday September 26 by South African police in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, bringing to ten the number of women killed in this municipality over the last two months. While police are still investigating whether the killings are connected, the gruesome discovery fuels growing concern over attacks on women in a country long plagued by violent crime.

This time the body was found in the township of Tembisa, police said without providing further details. “At this stage we can only confirm the discovery of the body. Crime scene management is ongoing and all responders are currently on scene,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili.

Local television station eNCA reported that the semi-naked body was found in a cemetery. The other nine victims were mostly aged between 20 and 30, with some found undressed and showing signs of sexual assault. The jogger, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, last seen alive on September 9, has become the emblematic figure of this series of murders since mid-July, in the Kempton Park region, about 30 km northeast of Johannesburg.

Endemic violence

The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and tied up with cable ties on July 15. A suspect was arrested two days later. Two other suspects, women aged 31 and 38, were arrested in connection with the ninth victim and charged on Monday. Police said the case could be linked to a romantic situation.

Gender-based violence is endemic in South Africa, despite years of government promises to tackle the problem and the declaration of gender-based violence as a national disaster. This country of 62 million people has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with more than 60 homicides per day on average.