The discovery of another woman’s body in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has brought the number of women found dead in the municipality over the past two months to 11.
The latest body was discovered in an open field near Rhokana Road in Springs on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at about midday. A security company vehicle patrolling the area reportedly spotted the body and alerted the police.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni said preliminary investigations indicated that the woman had died recently. He estimated that she was in her early 20s.
Police said the woman had not been fully clothed when her body was discovered. Her identity had not immediately been established, while forensic investigations were expected to provide further information about the circumstances of her death.
The latest discovery came only a day after the body of another woman, identified as Ntombifuthu Nxumalo, was found at Mooifontein Cemetery in the Vusimusi section of Tembisa.
Police believe Nxumalo may have been killed with stones, although a post-mortem examination is expected to establish the exact cause of death. A suspect has been arrested in connection with that case.
The arrest brings the number of people currently in police custody in connection with cases within the series to four. However, authorities have stressed that the 11 deaths have not been formally linked.
Police are investigating the cases separately while examining whether there could be connections between some of them. Investigators from various specialised units, including detectives, Crime Intelligence and forensic teams, have been deployed to assist with the investigations.
The deaths have generated renewed concern among residents and women’s rights advocates, particularly because several of the victims were found in isolated areas and some cases involved indications of sexual assault.
The developments have also brought renewed attention to South Africa’s broader gender-based violence and femicide crisis.
Government figures released earlier in September listed nine women whose bodies had been discovered in Ekurhuleni between July and September. The latest cases have since increased the number to 11.
The national Gender-Based Violence Command Centre also recorded 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16, an increase of 21 percent compared with the same period in August.
Police have appealed to members of the public who may have information about the deaths to come forward and assist investigators.
For now, authorities are awaiting forensic findings and further investigative work to determine the identities of the victims, establish the causes of death and determine whether any of the cases are connected.
The latest discovery has heightened anxiety in Ekurhuleni, as residents await answers from investigators and the authorities continue efforts to identify those responsible for the deaths.
Source: Thepressradio.com
