South African police discovered the 10th female body in the same area as previous victims. Two suspects linked to the 9th victim have been arrested, but it has not been confirmed whether this is a serial murder case.
On Saturday, 26 Sep 2026, South African police revealed they found another female body near Johannesburg, raising the total victims under investigation to 10. Two suspects have been arrested, though it remains unclear if the cases are connected.
Police began investigating after finding three female bodies in July and August within about 7 kilometers of each other in the Ekurhuleni municipality of Gauteng Province, east of Johannesburg.
Then, in early September, six more female bodies were found in the same area within just 10 days, sparking fears of a serial killer or a group behind these incidents.
Last week, two women were arrested and charged with murder related to the 9th victim, found on 17 Sep. Police said the victim had been stabbed and had her throat slashed. However, authorities have not linked these two suspects to the other murders.
Major General Tommy Mthombeni, Gauteng provincial police commissioner, told state broadcaster SABC on Saturday that investigators believe the 9th murder was an isolated incident, but they have not ruled out that some other cases may be connected.
Police noted similarities among some murder cases but stated there is no conclusive evidence yet that they were committed by the same individual or group.
Authorities said the nine bodies found before Saturday were women aged 20 to 30, many found nude or partially clothed and left in open spaces near main roads. Forensic psychology units are involved in the investigation.
However, police released only limited details about the 10th body found Saturday morning and have not identified the victim.
“We can only confirm the discovery of the body,” stated the South African Police Service in a press release. “The crime scene management team and all necessary personnel are working at the scene.”
South Africa has high rates of violent crime and violence against women. The murders in Ekurhuleni have sparked public outrage and demands for the government to enhance women's safety protections.
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Source:apnews