Police have widened their investigation into the deaths of women in Gauteng but say they cannot yet confirm whether a serial killer is operating in the province.
Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said investigators are now examining the death of a tenth woman, after her body was discovered in a dam in Moroka, Soweto, on Sunday.
The woman, believed to be in her 20s, was found wrapped in a blanket. Her death has added a new dimension to an investigation already focused on the deaths of nine women in Ekurhuleni.
Mosikili said detectives have not established a definitive link between the Soweto case and the deaths in Ekurhuleni.
However, the discovery has prompted investigators to broaden their inquiry as communities across Gauteng remain deeply concerned about the killings.
Dedicated team probing possible links
Speaking outside the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Mosikili said police would continue working to establish what happened to the women and whether any of the cases are connected.
A dedicated investigative team, including profilers, has been assembled to examine the cases and determine whether there is evidence pointing to a serial offender operating in Gauteng.
Police have urged the public to remain cautious while investigators work to establish the facts.
The investigation into the murder of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was found near Dawn Park in Boksburg last week, is being handled separately for now.
Three suspects appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday in connection with Ntimba’s murder.
Police allege that her killing was linked to a love-triangle dispute.
Mosikili said investigators would not rest until they had established the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determined whether there are connections between any of the cases.
No confirmed serial-killer link
Despite growing fears among residents, police have stressed that there is currently no confirmed evidence that a serial killer is responsible for the deaths.
The addition of the Soweto case means investigators must now examine a wider geographical area, while forensic evidence, victim profiles and other investigative leads are assessed.
For communities already alarmed by the number of women found dead, the investigation is being closely watched as police work to determine whether the cases represent separate incidents or part of a wider pattern.