Police say latest victim was discovered in open area east of Johannesburg as four people remain in custody
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The bodies of 11 women have been discovered in South Africa’s Ekurhuleni municipality over the past 10 weeks, with police investigating a series of deaths that has heightened concern over gender-based violence in the country.
Police said Sunday that the latest body was discovered around midday in an open area in the municipality, east of Johannesburg.
A security company vehicle patrolling the area reportedly spotted the body and alerted police.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili said the identity, age and cause of death of the latest victim were not immediately known.
The discovery came a day after police found the body of a semi-naked woman near a cemetery in the same municipality.
Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni said the woman appeared to have been stoned to death. A post-mortem examination is expected to establish the official cause of death.
Police said a man linked to that killing was arrested nearly 400 kilometres away after allegedly leaving the area.
The latest arrest brings to four the number of people currently in police custody in connection with the series of killings.
However, police have stressed that the cases have not been formally linked.
Eight of the 11 women were found dead this month alone, according to police.
The other victims were mostly in their 20s and 30s. Some were reportedly found without clothes and with indications of sexual assault.
The deaths have renewed concerns over gender-based violence in South Africa, a country that has continued to face high levels of violent crime and sexual violence despite years of government efforts to address the problem.
The national Gender-Based Violence Command Centre recorded 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16, an average of about 424 calls per day, representing a 21 per cent increase compared with the same period in August.
Authorities have not said whether the latest deaths are connected, while investigations and forensic examinations continue.
