Nine Women Found Dead, South Africa Fears Coordinated Femicide

South African police have announced a R400,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the deaths of nine women whose bodies were found at different locations in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The reward was announced during a media briefing by acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane, who said the money was intended to strengthen the investigation. The amount is equivalent to approximately $24,400. The ninth woman was found on the morning of the briefing, according to police. The discovery of nine bodies over roughly two months has prompted a high-level investigation and renewed attention to South Africa’s persistent problems with femicide and violent crime. Authorities have urged the public to provide any information that could help identify and arrest those responsible. Police have also warned women to avoid walking or exercising alone, especially in isolated areas. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said authorities would “leave no stone unturned” and had established a high-level multidisciplinary team led by the deputy provincial commissioner. Police have not formally determined that the deaths are connected. They said they do not want to treat the cases as linked incidents until investigations establish a connection, but emphasized that public assistance is urgently needed. The reward and expanded investigative team reflect the seriousness of the case, while the warning to women underscores concerns about safety in the affected areas. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials have not identified suspects or provided details about the circumstances of the deaths.

The discovery of nine women’s bodies near Johannesburg over a two-month period has shocked South Africa and renewed public concern about femicide and the country’s high levels of violent crime. The first body was found on 17 July in Kempton Park, naked and restrained with cable ties. A ninth woman was discovered on the morning of the report, and police arrested a man believed to have been her boyfriend. He remains in custody. The youngest victim was 20 years old. Authorities in Gauteng are investigating whether the deaths are connected, but have cautioned against prematurely labeling them the work of a single perpetrator or a serial killer. Police acknowledge that the similarities among the cases and the close proximity of the locations are concerning. The first five bodies were found in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg, while later discoveries occurred in Olifantsfontein and Kwa-Thema, approximately 25 and 34 kilometers from Kempton Park. All of the victims were women aged between 20 and 38. Police said they were found naked or partially clothed and had bruises on their bodies. One victim was identified as 38-year-old runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who was reported missing after her young daughter alerted relatives that she had not returned from her usual afternoon jog. Her body was found several days later. The case has intensified debate over women’s safety and South Africa’s femicide crisis. Official crime statistics show that 5,427 murders were recorded nationwide between April and July, an average of approximately 45 per day. The United Nations agency responsible for gender equality ranks South Africa’s femicide rate among the highest in the world.

Fears are growing in Johannesburg after the bodies of nine women were discovered in the eastern Ekurhuleni municipality over a two-month period, raising concerns that a serial killer may be targeting women on the outskirts of South Africa’s largest city. The latest five bodies were found within just four days, prompting police to investigate whether the deaths are connected. Police say the locations of the discoveries and other similarities between the cases are concerning. The first five bodies were found in or near Kempton Park, while the others were discovered 25 to 35 kilometers away, often in open areas near major roads. Authorities believe some of the women may have been killed elsewhere and their bodies later moved. All of the victims were in their 20s or 30s, were found naked or partly clothed, and some showed similar bruising. Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili appealed to the public to provide information, stressing that a reward has been offered for a deserving informant. She urged people to come forward immediately as the killings continue to cause alarm. Residents, particularly women, say they are living in fear and want the government to identify and arrest those responsible. Local resident Nomgqibelo Tshabalala described the situation as unbearable and said residents feel unable to eat or carry out normal activities because they do not know what will happen next. The suspected killings have renewed attention on South Africa’s severe femicide and violent-crime problem. The country recorded an average of 45 homicides per day between April and July of the year reported, while United Nations data identifies South Africa as having one of the world’s highest femicide rates.

South African police have confirmed the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in two months in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, intensifying fears over a possible pattern of violence against women. The latest victim, believed to be in her 30s, was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet beside a road in Dawn Park. Local media reported that she appeared to have bruises and stab wounds, but her identity has not been released. The bodies of eight other women have been found since the first discovery in Kempton Park on 15 July. Several victims were partially clothed or had injuries. Police have not determined whether the deaths are connected, and officials have cautioned against describing the incidents as the work of a serial killer. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said the cases appeared, at this stage, to be “quite distinct, separate events,” although investigators are examining whether a group could be involved. One suspect was arrested in connection with the first case and remains in custody, but police have not linked that person to the other deaths. Authorities have formed a multidisciplinary investigative team involving detectives, intelligence officers, forensic specialists and other experts. They are also pursuing an undisclosed person of interest and have offered a 400,000-rand reward for information leading to arrests. The killings have caused widespread alarm, particularly among women in the affected communities. Resident Bongeka Sebela said people were afraid to leave their homes. President Cyril Ramaphosa promised a thorough investigation, while Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said authorities had the capacity to respond. Police have urged women to avoid isolated routes, remain alert, share travel plans and avoid using earphones at high volume. The investigation comes amid South Africa’s longstanding gender-based violence crisis. UN Women says women in the country are killed at five times the global average rate. In November 2025, South Africa classified violence against women as a national disaster after protests and an online campaign.

South African police are investigating the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in Ekurhuleni, an area east of Johannesburg, amid fears that a serial killer or group of killers may be responsible. All nine bodies have been found across the Ekurhuleni municipality during the past two months. Authorities previously warned the public after identifying similarities among the first eight killings that they considered sufficiently concerning. The latest victim was found early Thursday by a passerby near a construction site. Provincial police commissioner Fred Kekana said the unidentified woman appeared to be about 30 years old and had an apparent stab wound to her side; her throat also appeared to have been cut. Forensic investigators had not yet established the official cause of death or determined whether the case was connected to the other killings. The deaths have caused shock across South Africa, prompted a high-level investigation and drawn renewed attention to femicide and the country’s broader problem of violent crime. A multidisciplinary team has been assigned to investigate the cases and identify those responsible. Bodies have been discovered in several Ekurhuleni communities, including Kempton Park, Pomona, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, Rhodesfield, KwaThema and Dawn Park. Police have reportedly imposed a lockdown in Kempton Park. Officials urged the public to provide information, avoid sharing graphic images or unverified claims online, and allow investigators time to gather evidence. Deputy police chief Tebello Mosikili said authorities could not continue finding bodies, while Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said police were pursuing leads in several cases and vowed that the government would respond forcefully. Missing In Southern Africa urged families to report suspected disappearances immediately, emphasizing that there is no mandatory waiting period before contacting the South African Police Service.

South African police have discovered the body of a ninth woman near an airport in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, intensifying fears that a serial killer or group of killers may be targeting women in the area. The victim was found near a construction site on Thursday after a passerby alerted authorities. She appeared to be about 30 years old, had a stab wound to her side, and may have had her throat cut. Her identity and official cause of death have not yet been established. The nine bodies were found in Ekurhuleni over the past two months, with three discovered in recent days. Investigators say similarities among the deaths of the first eight victims were serious enough to prompt a public warning. Police are now examining whether the latest killing is connected to the earlier cases or whether a copycat killer could be involved. Authorities have imposed a lockdown in Kempton Park, an Ekurhuleni area, and established roadblocks as investigations continue. Deputy police chief Tebello Mosikili said officials could not continue finding bodies, reflecting the public alarm caused by the killings. Police have offered a reward of 400,000 rand, approximately $25,000 or €21,400, for information leading to an arrest. The deaths have generated widespread fear and anger in South Africa, where murder rates are among the highest in the world and gender-based violence is endemic. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said the province would confront whoever was responsible, while President Cyril Ramaphosa promised that authorities would leave no stone unturned. Ramaphosa acknowledged that the incidents were creating fear and uncertainty, particularly among women. South Africa has declared a national emergency to address gender-based violence, and the United Nations estimates that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.

South African police have discovered the body of a ninth woman near Johannesburg while investigating a series of killings reported in the same area over the past two months. The latest victim was found on Thursday and appeared to be a young woman in an age range similar to the other victims. However, police cautioned that it was too early to determine whether the death was connected to the earlier cases. Authorities also said the body appeared to have been dumped at the location, raising the possibility that the killing occurred elsewhere. The deaths have caused widespread alarm and renewed anger over violence against women and concerns about public safety in South Africa. Most of the victims were reportedly in their 20s or 30s, and some were found without clothes and with signs of sexual violence. Gender-based violence remains one of the country’s most entrenched social problems despite repeated government pledges to address it. President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that investigators will leave “no stone” unturned. Residents in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, described growing fear, particularly for women and girls traveling alone. Nomgqibelo Tshabalala said she was increasingly worried after her daughter used a ride-hailing service shortly before the latest discovery. Deputy National Commissioner for Policing Tebello Mosikili urged caution, saying police had only just been called to the scene and that no conclusions could yet be drawn about the latest death. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to identify the victim and determine whether the cases are linked.

This France 24 edition of “Eye on Africa” presents three stories involving public safety, technology and cultural development across the continent. Its lead report concerns South Africa, where police have begun investigating the possibility of a femicidal serial killer after the body of a ninth woman was found in Johannesburg. The article does not provide details about the victims, the suspected perpetrator, the circumstances of the deaths or the status of the investigation, but frames the discovery as a serious potential pattern of gender-related killings. The programme also examines attitudes toward artificial intelligence in Africa. It reports that many Africans are enthusiastic about the ways technology could contribute to economic growth and development. At the same time, it highlights concerns that an uncontrolled expansion of AI could threaten people’s lives and livelihoods. This segment therefore presents AI as both an opportunity and a source of social and economic risk. The final story reports the official opening of Chad’s first music school in N’Djamena on Wednesday night. The school is presented as a cultural milestone for the country, although the supplied article text does not provide information about its programmes, funding, students or broader significance. The 12-minute, 39-second programme is credited to Georja Calvin-Smith, Antonia Cimini, Eunice Masson, Clarisse Fortuné and Harold Girard, with video by Antonia Cimini and Georja Calvin-Smith. Overall, the edition combines an urgent report about suspected femicide with a balanced discussion of AI and a positive cultural-development story.