South African police investigate nine deaths after latest body found in Ekurhuleni

South African authorities have confirmed that a ninth woman’s body has been found in less than two months, deepening concern over a series of unexplained deaths east of Johannesburg.

The latest victim was discovered partially clothed and wrapped in a sheet beside a road in Dawn Park on Thursday morning, police said. Her identity has not yet been made public.

The discovery comes after the bodies of eight other women were found since July across Ekurhuleni, a large metropolitan area east of Johannesburg.

Several of the women were found partially dressed and showed signs of injury, but police have stressed that they have not yet determined whether all the deaths are connected or whether a serial killer is responsible.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that “no stone will be left unturned” in the search for those responsible for the killings, which he said were “causing fear and uncertainty in our communities”.

One of the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared last week after leaving home for an afternoon run. Her body was found three days later behind a hotel in Kempton Park.

Two other victims have since been identified as Itumeleng Kekana, who had been missing since July, and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was found beside a road in KwaThema on Tuesday.

The first of the nine bodies was discovered in Kempton Park on 15 July. A suspect was arrested two days later in connection with that case and remains in custody, but police have not linked the suspect to the other deaths.

More bodies were found in August and September in areas including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema.

The latest victim is believed to have been in her 30s and appeared to have bruises and stab wounds, according to local media reports.

Police have formed a multidisciplinary team of detectives, intelligence officers, forensic specialists and other experts to investigate the deaths and determine whether the cases are linked.

Investigators are also pursuing a person of interest, although they have not said which case or cases the individual may be connected to.

“Let’s not get emotional, the gloves are off,” Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said on Thursday, adding that authorities had the resources and capacity to respond to the killings.

Authorities have offered a 400,000 rand ($24,000; £18,000) reward for information that could lead to arrests and have urged families with missing relatives to come forward to help identify the remaining victims.

The discoveries have sparked widespread alarm in Ekurhuleni, particularly around Kempton Park, and come amid long-standing concern over high levels of violence against women in South Africa.

Police say they are not treating the deaths as the work of a serial killer at this stage, but are investigating the possibility that a group may be behind the killings.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has warned against speculation, saying investigators are dealing with what currently appear to be “quite distinct, separate events”.

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