5 questions about the hunt for a serial killer targeting women in South Africa

1. What happened?

South African police discovered a ninth woman’s body on Thursday in the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, as part of an ongoing investigation into a series of killings over the past two months. The latest victim, believed to be about 30, was found near a construction site by a passerby and had an apparent stab wound and a cut throat, though the official cause of death had not yet been confirmed.

2. Why does this matter?

The killings have raised fears that a single person or group is responsible, prompting a public warning from police due to similarities among the first eight cases. The situation has drawn national attention to femicide and violent crime in South Africa, sparking shock, grief and demands for government action.

3. Who is involved?

The investigation is being led by a multidisciplinary team of experts, with provincial police commissioner Fred Kekana providing updates on the case. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has also been directly involved, addressing reporters at the scene and vowing a strong response, while groups such as Missing In Southern Africa and a coalition of more than 1,000 faith leaders and activists have joined calls for accountability and support for victims’ families.

4. What comes next?

Lesufi said police were making progress in two or three of the cases, though he did not provide details, and asked the public to allow investigators time to gather sufficient evidence. Police have also urged families to report missing relatives immediately and asked the public not to circulate photos of the bodies or unverified reports on social media, warning this could spread fear and encourage copycat crimes.

5. What is the broader context?

The bodies have been discovered across several Ekurhuleni communities, including Kempton Park, Pomona, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, Rhodesfield, KwaThema and Dawn Park. The case has also been linked in public memory to the disappearance and death of jogger Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, prompting memorial runs, prayer services and marches by women’s rights advocates demanding stronger protections against gender-based violence.

For more on this report, read “A ninth woman’s body found in South Africa deepens fears of a possible serial killer,” an Associated Press story published on The Washington Times.