Ekurhuleni Shock: 12 Women Murdered in 60 Days – Investigations Urged
From mid‑July to mid‑September, police in the Ekurhuleni region near Johannesburg discovered the bodies of twelve women, sparking deep concern across South Africa. The victims, ranging from their late twenties to early forties, were found naked or partially clothed, many with bruising and other signs of violent assault.
Amid the discoveries, authorities arrested three suspects in separate cases, but most killings remain unsolved. Police have publicly stated that they cannot rule out the presence of a serial offender, and a specialised task force has been formed to investigate the spate of murders.
The series of killings has come at a time when South Africa already reports one of the world’s highest homicide rates. According to the South African Human Rights Commission, 569 women were killed between April and June last year, averaging six female murders per day.
The government has offered a reward of 400,000 rand (approximately $24,000) for information leading to arrests. The case has also prompted poignant community responses, including a memorial run in Johannesburg to honor missing runners such as Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo.
Across the region, the bodies were found in locations such as Kempton Park, Artesian Bridge, and Boksburg, with six victims located near the main Johannesburg airport and several others at a dam in Soweto. Despite the geographical clustering, police do not yet see direct links between the victims or the circumstances of their deaths.
The spate of murders raises urgent questions about the safety of women in urban South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the killings as a “stain on our national conscience,” while community groups call for comprehensive reforms and stricter enforcement of laws protecting women.
