NINTH WOMAN FOUND DEAD IN TWO MONTHS AS SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE HUNT SERIAL KILLER

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By:Aminat Tajudeen

South African police have recovered the body of a ninth woman in two months in an area east of Johannesburg, as a string of killings continues to trigger public concern.

The latest body was discovered on Thursday by the roadside in Dawn Park, prompting police to intensify efforts to determine whether the killing is linked to eight earlier cases.

Police have imposed a lockdown in parts of Kempton Park in the Ekurhuleni municipality 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 in Dawn Park.

Police have announced a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspected killer or killers. The Democratic Alliance, South Africa’s second-largest political party, has offered an additional $31,000 reward.

Mosikili said investigators would establish whether Thursday’s discovery was connected to the previous murders or whether a copycat killer could be responsible.

The latest killings have renewed concerns over gender-based violence in South Africa, where the United Nations estimates that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.

One of the victims, 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, disappeared after leaving her eight-year-old daughter at home to go jogging. Her body was discovered on September 12 behind a hotel.

Her disappearance attracted widespread attention after fellow runners launched a social media campaign seeking information about her whereabouts. The campaign subsequently drew renewed public attention to earlier cases and the discovery of additional bodies.

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

Mosikili said the suspect was a foreign national but did not disclose his country of origin.

A second victim, aged 32, 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 are continuing as authorities work to establish whether the deaths are connected and identify those responsible.