Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the provincial government will deploy resources to help identify six women whose bodies remain unidentified following a string of discoveries across Ekurhuleni.
Eight women’s bodies have now been found in Kempton Park, Kwa-Thema, Olifantsfontein and Clayville. Only two of the victims have been identified.
Briefing the media in Johannesburg on Wednesday, Lesufi said identifying the women was an urgent priority to provide their families with answers and closure.
“We have committed ourselves that the six unidentified women will release resources to trace their relatives or families so that they can be in a position to have closure,” Lesufi said.
He said authorities were hopeful that investigators were close to making a breakthrough.
“We remain hopeful, on the basis of the information provided to us by the investigators, that a breakthrough is imminent,” he said.
Lesufi also defended the decision to impose a lockdown in parts of Kempton Park from Thursday, saying it would help authorities protect residents and follow up on investigative leads.
“We will be in a position to ensure that people in that area are safe, but most importantly, we will follow the leads and the information that has been provided to us thus far,” he said.
The developments come as police continue investigating the deaths and whether there is any connection between the cases.
Authorities have not established a link between all eight women.
Police are offering a R400,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest.
