Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, The latest body was found wrapped in a sheet on the side of the road in Dawn Park.

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Publicado em 17 de setembro de 2026, 10:51 BST.

Eu criei esta 'tia de IA' para mulheres após tragédia familiar na África do Sul.

Police in South Africa have confirmed the discovery of a ninth woman's body in just two months, amid growing concern over a string of unexplained deaths east of Johannesburg.

A última vítima foi encontrada semi-nua e envolta em um lençol ao lado de uma estrada no Dawn Park na manhã de quinta-feira, disse a polícia. A identidade dela ainda não foi divulgada.

The discovery follows the deaths of eight other women whose bodies have been found since July across Ekurhuleni, a major urban area of Johannesburg.

Several of the women were found partially clothed and with injuries, but police have stressed that they have not established whether all the deaths are connected or whether a serial killer is responsible.

O último corpo encontrado pertence a uma mulher, que se acredita ter cerca de 30 anos, e apresentava hematomas e feridas de faca, segundo a mídia local.

A descoberta tem gerado medo na região, sobretudo entre mulheres que afirmam não se sentirem mais seguras.

We are scared to come out of our houses. We are scared to go to the shops. We are no longer free in a country where we are supposed to be safe as women," local resident Bongeka Sebela told the BBC.

O presidente Cyril Ramaphosa prometeu que “nenhuma pedra será deixada sem ser virada” na busca pelos responsáveis pelos assassinatos, que ele disse que “estão causando medo e incerteza em nossas comunidades”.

Among the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, who disappeared last week after leaving her home for an afternoon run. Her body was found three days later behind a hotel in Kempton Park.

Two other victims have since been identified as Itumeleng Kekana, who had been missing since July, and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was discovered by the roadside in KwaThema on Tuesday.

The first of the nine bodies was discovered in Kempton Park on 15 July. A suspect was arrested two days later in connection with that case and remains in custody, but police have not linked that suspect to the other deaths.

Mais corpos foram descobertos em agosto e setembro, incluindo em Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville e KwaThema.

Police have assembled a multidisciplinary team of detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts and other specialists to investigate the deaths and establish whether there are links between the cases.

Eles também estão perseguindo uma pessoa de interesse, embora não tenham divulgado a qual caso ou casos essa pessoa pode estar ligada.

Let's not get emotional, the gloves are off," said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday, adding that the authorities had the capacity to deal with the killings.

In a statement on Thursday, South African police said the recent rise in serious and violent crimes against women remained a "matter of grave concern", urging women in the country to remain vigilant about their personal safety.

Eles aconselharam as mulheres a evitar caminhar sozinhas ou usar rotas isoladas, permanecer alertas a estranhos e veículos suspeitos, e compartilhar sua localização ou planos de viagem com alguém de confiança.

They also advised against walking with earphones or earbuds at high volume, warning this could reduce awareness of their surroundings.

Praticar medidas de segurança pessoal pode salvar vidas.

Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, Some local residents are afraid following the discovery of the latest body.

The discoveries have caused widespread alarm in Ekurhuleni, particularly around Kempton Park, and come against the backdrop of longstanding concern about high levels of violence against women in South Africa.

A polícia afirma que, neste momento, não está vinculando as mortes a um serial killer, mas está investigando a possibilidade de um grupo de pessoas estar por trás dos assassinatos.

O ministro interino da Polícia, Firoz Cachalia, alertou contra especulações, dizendo que os investigadores estavam lidando com o que, neste momento, parecia ser "quite distinct, separate events.

South Africa experiences some of the world's highest levels of gender-based violence (GBV), with the rate at which women are killed five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women.

Last November, the country classified violence against women a national disaster following an online campaign that culminated in countrywide protests.

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