Full Breakdown
A Decade of Female Bodies: The 10th Discovery in Ekurhuleni
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Discovery of the Tenth Victim
On Saturday, police in the Ekurhuleni municipality east of Johannesburg confirmed the finding of another woman's body in Thembisa, raising the total number of female victims uncovered since mid-July to ten. The body was located in the Vusimusi section of Thembisa South near a cemetery; police released only that the discovery had been made in the morning and that crime-scene management was underway. The victim’s identity and cause of death have not yet been disclosed.
Background & Context – Ongoing Wave of Femicide
The investigation began after three women were found in July and August within a six-kilometre radius in Ekurhuleni. A further six bodies were recovered in a ten-day span earlier this month, prompting fears of a serial offender. South Africa records one of the world’s highest femicide rates, with an average of 15 women killed per day, and overall murder rates exceeding 60 killings daily. Gender-based violence has been declared a national disaster, yet distress calls to the national GBV Command Centre rose 21 % in the first half of September, averaging 424 calls per day.
Data & Statistics – Numbers Highlighting the Crisis
- Ten female bodies discovered in Ekurhuleni between July and September.
- Victims are predominantly women in their 20s or 30s; several were found partially or fully nude.
- A 400,000-rand (US $25,000) reward has been offered for information leading to an arrest; the Democratic Alliance added a further US $31,000.
- The GBV Command Centre logged thousands of distress calls in early September.
- National averages: 15 femicide victims per day; more than 60 total murders per day.
Official Statements & Responses
Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni told reporters that investigators have placed “highly capable” personnel on the case and that the latest victim appeared to have been stoned to death, pending a post-mortem examination. He reiterated that while the ninth killing is believed to be isolated, some of the cases share similarities, though no conclusive link has been established.
Police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed that only the discovery of the body could be verified at this stage and that all necessary role players were present at the scene.
Community Impact – On-the-Ground Reports
Residents of Thembisa and nearby Rhodesfield report heightened fear and altered daily routines. Following the recent discovery of runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo’s body, local women have formed walking groups that rely on male companions, and some have halted outdoor exercise altogether. Taxi driver Vusi Khumalo noted a sharp decline in passenger volume at the local rank, attributing the slowdown to safety concerns after Moselakgomo’s murder.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The cause of death for the ninth victim was described by AP as “stabbed and throat cut,” whereas Al Jazeera and AFP reported the ninth killing may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter and did not specify the manner of death.
- Police have not linked the two women charged with the ninth murder to any of the other cases, and no definitive evidence ties the ten deaths to a single perpetrator.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’ve sadly heard about 10th body of a woman found in Thembisa,” — Cyril Ramaphosa, president
What's Next
Police have pledged continued forensic analysis of the latest body and have urged the public to provide information, emphasizing that the multidisciplinary task team will keep evaluating whether the cases are connected. No specific future hearings or deadlines have been announced.