Fears of serial killer on loose as bodies of nine women found in just two months in same South African city

FEARS are mounting that a serial killer is on the loose in South Africa after the bodies of nine women have been found in just two months. Police made the string of grim discoveries on the outskirts of Johannesburg, terrifying residents in the country’s largest city. Nine female bodies have been found on the outskirts of Johannesburg in just two months Credit: EPA The grim finds have sparked fears that a serial killer is at large Credit: AFP The latest victim was found half-naked, wrapped in a sheet and dumped on a construction site on Thursday morning. The unidentified woman, thought to be around 30, appeared to have a stab wound to her side and her throat slit, police said. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! All of the victims so far have been aged between 20 and 38 and were found partially clothed with injuries. Officials have stressed that they haven’t yet established whether the cases are connected. But they have said the findings were “sufficiently concerning for the police to issue a public warning”. Fred Kekana, the Gauteng provincial commissioner, urged people to avoid jumping to premature conclusions. He said: “Investigators are considering all possibilities, including the possibility of multiple suspects or separate perpetrators. “Police are comparing the evidence, timelines, locations, victim profiles and circumstances of each case before reaching conclusions.” Most read in The Sun Police work at the site where a ninth woman found dumped on the side of a road in Boksburg Credit: EPA The victims have all been found partially clothed and with injuries Credit: EPA He acknowledged that similarities in the victims’ deaths and the proximity of the bodies was cause for concern. President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that “no stone will be left unturned” and has called for the investigation to be made a top priority. The first five bodies were discovered in or near the town of Kempton Park on the outskirts of Johannesburg. The others were found in separate locations between 15 and 21 miles away. Some of the bodies were discovered in open areas near major roads. Police say the killings may have taken place in different locations to where the bodies were found. The last five bodies were discovered in the space of four days this week. Detectives from the Investigative Psychology Unit, which investigates complex serial violent crimes, are part of the investigation team. Police have not yet determined whether all the killings are connected Credit: EPA South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to leave ‘no stone unturned’ Credit: AFP The first body was discovered on July 17, naked and restrained with cable ties. A suspect believed to have been the victim’s boyfriend was arrested and taken into custody, according to police, though no charges have been brought against him. One of the other victims was identified as Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo, 38, who went missing while out jogging. She was reported missing after her eight-year-old daughter alerted family members that she had not returned from her daily afternoon jog, and she was found dead several days later. Another body was found naked and in an advanced stage of decomposition, authorities said. The youngest victim has been identified as a 20-year-old woman. Police have appealed to the public for help and offered a reward of $25,000 (£18,700) for information leading to the perpetrator or perpetrators. They have also urged women in the area to be extremely cautious and not go out alone, and have deployed extra officers to the area. The killings have highlighted the high rates of femicide and violent crime in South Africa and sparked a renewed outcry over the safety of women. Between April and July this year, the country recorded 5,427 homicides, which is an average of about 45 per day, according to crime statistics. Femicide rates in South Africa are among the highest in the world, according to the United Nations‘ agency for gender equality. A study in 2022 by a South African think tank found that more than 35 per cent of adult women had experienced physical or sexual violence at some point. Comment now