South African police discovered yet another body on Saturday in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, raising the total number of women found dead in the municipality over the past two months to 10.
This discovery deepens the mounting alarm about violence against women in a country that has long struggled with violent crime, as police try to determine whether the killings are linked.
According to police, the body was discovered in the Tembisa township, though they did not give any further information.
“At this point, we can only confirm that a body has been discovered. Crime scene management and all the necessary role players are on the scene at present,” said police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili.
Local television station eNCA reported that the semi-naked body was discovered at a cemetery.
The other nine victims were mainly in their 20s and 30s, and some were found with their clothes removed and showing signs of sexual assault.
The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was discovered naked and bound with cable ties on July 15. A suspect was taken into custody two days later.
Two more suspects, women aged 31 and 38, were arrested in connection with the ninth victim and charged on Monday.
Police have stated that this case may have arisen from a relationship-related issue.
Gender-based violence is widespread in South Africa, despite years of government promises to address the problem and the designation of gender-based violence as a national disaster.
South Africa, home to 62 million people, has one of the highest murder rates in the world, averaging more than 60 killings each day.
