South African Police Recover 9th Woman’s Body Amid Spree Killing

South African police have recovered the body of a ninth woman in the east of Johannesburg within two months, as a series of killings continues to fuel public concern.

The latest body was discovered on Thursday along a roadside in Dawn Park, prompting police to step up security measures in parts of the Ekurhuleni municipality.

Authorities have imposed a lockdown in Kempton Park and mounted roadblocks following the discovery of three partially naked bodies this week.

“We cannot continue picking up bodies,” Deputy Police Chief Tebello Mosikili told journalists while speaking at the scene of the latest discovery.

Police have announced a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the killings. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, has separately offered a $31,000 reward.

Mosikili said investigators were examining whether Thursday’s discovery was connected to the earlier killings or whether the latest incident involved a copycat perpetrator.

The latest deaths have renewed concerns over gender-based violence in South Africa, where violence against women remains a major social issue.

The United Nations estimates that one in three women in the country experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime, despite successive government initiatives aimed at addressing gender-based violence.

One of the victims, 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, reportedly left her eight-year-old daughter at home to go jogging but did not return.

Her body was discovered on September 12 behind a hotel. Her disappearance had attracted public attention after fellow runners launched a social media campaign seeking information about her whereabouts.

The campaign subsequently drew renewed attention to earlier cases and the discovery of additional bodies.

Police said the first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15. A suspect was arrested two days later and appeared in court on Wednesday.

According to Mosikili, the suspect is a foreign national, although he did not disclose the country of origin.

The second victim, a 32-year-old woman, was found partially clothed on August 24, while a third woman was discovered naked and in an advanced state of decomposition on September 10.

Police investigations into the killings are continuing as authorities seek to establish whether the cases are connected.