Tenth woman found dead in South Africa’s Ekurhuleni municipality

South African police have found another woman’s body in Tembisa, east of Johannesburg, bringing to 10 the number of women found dead in the Ekurhuleni municipality over the past two months. Police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili said officers could confirm only the discovery of the body. She said crime-scene management and other relevant personnel were at the location, without providing further details about the victim or the circumstances of her death.

Local television station eNCA reported that the body was found at a cemetery and appeared to be semi-naked. That report was not accompanied by further details in the supplied material. The latest discovery has intensified concern about violence against women in South Africa.

Police are still working to determine whether the killings are connected. The nine other victims were mostly women in their 20s and 30s. Some were reportedly found without clothes and showed signs of sexual assault.

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. Two women, aged 31 and 38, were arrested in connection with the ninth victim and charged on Monday.

Police have said that case may have resulted from a relationship-related matter. Gender-based violence remains a major concern in South Africa, where the government has declared it a national disaster. The country also has a high murder rate, with more than 60 killings reported on average each day, according to the supplied material.