South African police discover body of 10th woman near Johannesburg

Police are investigating the killings in a country with one of the highest femicide rates in the world.

Members of the South African Police Service and state pathologists inspect the body of one of the women found dumped on the side of a road near Johannesburg earlier this month [File: Kim Ludbrook/EPA]

South African police have discovered the body of another woman east of the country’s commercial capital, Johannesburg, bringing the total number of female bodies found near the city since mid-July to 10.

Police confirmed the discovery in Thembisa, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday but have not provided any further information. The body was found in the morning, according to the daily newspaper, The Sowetan.

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The discovery adds to growing concern over violence against women in a country long plagued by violent crime. While police work to establish whether the killings are connected, there have been community concerns that the murders are being carried out by the same killer or killers.

Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni said the latest victim appeared to have been stoned to death, and a post-mortem examination would be conducted to determine the cause of death.

“We have put highly capable investigators on this case,” he told reporters at the scene, pledging to find those responsible for the killings.

President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the latest discovery while on the campaign trail for upcoming local elections, broadcaster eNCA reported.

“I’ve sadly heard about 10th body of a woman found in Thembisa,” Ramaphosa said. “This continues to make us very sad, and in many ways, it’s a shame on the men of South Africa that we continue to kill the women of our beautiful country.”

South Africa has one of the highest femicide rates in the world, with an average of 15 women killed per day.

Two women have been charged with the murder of the woman whose body was the ninth discovered, last week. Police have said that the killing may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter.

Mthombeni told state broadcaster SABC that investigators believe the ninth killing was an isolated case. However, he said it is possible some of the other killings are connected.

He added that some of the murders shared similarities, but cautioned that there is no conclusive evidence to suggest the same person or group is responsible.

Police discovered three bodies in July and August within six kilometres (four miles) of one another in Ekurhuleni. Earlier this month, six bodies were found in 10 days, also in Ekurhuleni.

Prior to Saturday’s discovery, all of the deceased women were in their 20s or 30s. Several of them were found completely or partially nude. Police have not yet confirmed the age of the 10th woman or whether she was clothed.

The first body, discovered in mid-July, was found naked. The deceased had been restrained with cable ties. Her boyfriend was subsequently arrested, but no charges were filed.

警方正在调查这起谋杀案，该国是世界上女性谋杀率最高的国家之一。

南非警察局成员和国家病理学家正在检查本月初在约翰内斯堡附近路边发现的一名弃尸女性的尸体。[图片：Kim Ludbrook/EPA]

南非警方在该国商业首都约翰内斯堡以东发现了另一名女性的尸体，使得自 7 月中旬以来在该市附近发现的女性尸体总数达到 10 具。

警方周六证实了在埃库鲁莱尼市滕比萨区发现尸体的消息，但未提供更多信息。据《索韦托人报》报道，尸体于当天上午被发现。

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这一发现加剧了人们对这个长期饱受暴力犯罪困扰的国家中针对女性的暴力问题的担忧。警方正在努力查明这些谋杀案是否有关联，但社区一直担心这些谋杀案是同一或几个凶手所为。

省警察局长汤米·姆托姆贝尼表示，最新一名受害者似乎是被石头砸死的，将进行尸检以确定死因。

“我们已经派出了能力很强的调查人员负责此案，”他在现场告诉记者，并承诺会找到对杀人事件负责的人。

据广播公司eNCA报道，总统西里尔·拉马福萨在为即将到来的地方选举进行竞选活动时，承认了这一最新发现。

“我悲痛地得知，在滕比萨发现了第十具女性遗体，”拉马福萨说。“这让我们感到非常悲痛，从很多方面来说，南非男人继续杀害我们美丽国家的女性，这是一种耻辱。”

南非是世界上女性谋杀率最高的国家之一，平均每天有 15 名女性被杀害。

两名女子被控谋杀上周发现的第九具女性尸体。警方表示，这起谋杀案可能与感情纠纷有关。

姆托姆贝尼告诉南非国家广播公司（SABC），调查人员认为第九起谋杀案是一起孤立事件。但他表示，其他一些谋杀案可能存在关联。

他还补充说，有些谋杀案有相似之处，但他同时警告说，目前还没有确凿的证据表明是同一个人或同一个团伙所为。

警方于7月和8月在埃库鲁莱尼相距六公里（四英里）的范围内发现了三具尸体。本月初，埃库鲁莱尼在十天内又发现了六具尸体。

在周六的发现之前，所有遇难女性的年龄都在20至30岁之间。其中几人被发现时全身或半裸。警方尚未确认第十名女性的年龄，也未确认她是否穿着衣服。

第一具尸体于七月中旬被发现，死者全身赤裸，双手被扎带捆绑。她的男友随后被捕，但未被起诉。