Three Suspects Arrested in Johannesburg Women Killings Investigation

JOHANNESBURG — South African police announced on Monday the arrest of three suspects linked to one of a string of killings of women in the Johannesburg outskirts.

The killings of nine women in their 20s and 30s in Ekurhuleni over the past two months have sparked outrage across South Africa, a country grappling with high levels of gender‑based violence.

Authorities are examining whether the attacks are linked, stoking concerns that a serial killer—or multiple perpetrators—may be active in the region.

The suspects—two women and one man—were slated to appear in court later Monday after their arrest in connection with the death of a woman whose body was discovered last week in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.

Nevertheless, investigators have not tied the suspects to the remaining eight killings.

Officials caution that it remains unclear whether all the killings are connected, although they have noted similarities in several cases and have urged women in Ekurhuleni to take extra precautions.

Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said on Sunday that, so far, there is no definitive evidence linking the killings to a serial killer, adding that “nothing has been ruled out as investigations proceed.”

Six of the victims’ bodies were recovered within a 10‑day span this month. Four of the nine victims were found within roughly six kilometers (3.7 miles) of one another, and several bodies were located in open areas beside major roads.

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