South African police have launched an urgent investigation after the bodies of at least seven women were discovered in the area east of Johannesburg over the past two months, raising fears that a serial killer or organized group may be targeting women.
Five of the bodies were recovered within a single week in Ekurhuleni municipality, according to police. Several of the victims were found partially naked and showing signs of severe physical assault.
Police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe said investigators were yet to determine whether the killings were connected or carried out by one person or a group.
“We are still investigating whether we are dealing with one perpetrator or a group of men that are behind the murders of these women,” Mathe said, describing the discoveries as “concerning.”
Jogger’s disappearance leads to discovery
The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found on July 15, naked and bound with cable ties. Police arrested a suspect two days later.
A second woman, aged 32, was found partially clothed on August 24. Another woman was discovered on September 10, naked and in an advanced state of decomposition.
The case gained wider public attention after 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo disappeared while out jogging. She had left her eight-year-old daughter at home but failed to return.
Her body was discovered on September 12 behind a hotel, police said.
Moselakgomo’s disappearance prompted fellow runners to launch a social media campaign seeking information about her whereabouts. The search subsequently helped draw attention to the discovery of additional bodies in the area.
Growing fear among women
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday pledged that authorities would pursue every lead in the investigation.
“No stone will be left unturned,” Ramaphosa said, acknowledging that the killings were creating “fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women.”
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia described the discovery of the bodies as “deeply disturbing.”
Amnesty International South Africa said the deaths underscored the continuing danger faced by women across the country, describing the case as another “horrific reminder that women in South Africa are not safe.”
South Africa has long struggled with high levels of gender-based violence. The United Nations estimates that about one in three women in the country experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.
UN Women has also identified South Africa as one of the countries with particularly high levels of violence against women and children.
Police investigate possible serial killings
Investigators are now working to establish whether the seven deaths form part of a single pattern and whether the victims had any links to one another.
The possibility of a serial killer has intensified public concern, particularly following the discovery of multiple bodies within a relatively short period and in the same broader area.
The investigation is unfolding against the backdrop of South Africa’s wider violent-crime crisis. The country has a population of about 62 million and records some of the world’s highest homicide levels.
At least 60 people are killed each day, with some of the violence linked to territorial conflicts involving gangs engaged in drug trafficking and illegal mining.
For residents, however, the deaths of the women have added another layer of fear, with authorities under growing pressure to identify those responsible and determine whether more victims may be at risk.
