Police are investigating the killings in a country where the rate of femicide is one of the highest in the world.
Published on September 26, 2026
South African police have discovered the body of another woman east of the country’s commercial capital, Johannesburg, bringing to 10 the total number of female bodies found near the city since mid-July.
Police confirmed the discovery in Thembisa, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday but provided no further information. The body was found in the morning, according to the daily The Sowetan.
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The finding adds to growing concern about violence against women in a country long plagued by violent crime. While police work to establish whether the murders are connected, the community is concerned that the killings were committed by the same killer(s).
Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni said the latest victim appeared to have been stoned and an autopsy would be conducted to determine the cause of death.
“We have assigned highly competent investigators to this case,” he told reporters on site, pledging to find those responsible for the killings.
President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the latest discovery while campaigning for the upcoming local elections, eNCA television reported.
“I have sadly heard of the tenth body of a woman found in Thembisa,” Ramaphosa said. “It continues to make us very sad and, in many ways, it is a shame for South African men that we continue to kill the women of our beautiful country.”
South Africa has one of the highest rates of femicide 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 said the murder may have stemmed from a relationship-related issue.
Mthombeni told state broadcaster SABC that investigators believed the ninth murder was an isolated case. However, he added that it was possible that some of the other killings were linked.
He added that some of the killings had similarities, but cautioned that there was no conclusive evidence to suggest the same person or group was responsible.
Police discovered three bodies in July and August within six kilometers of each other in Ekurhuleni. Earlier this month, six bodies were found in 10 days, also in Ekurhuleni.
Before Saturday’s discovery, all of the deceased women were aged in their 20s or 30s. Several of them were found completely or partially naked. Police have not yet confirmed the age of the tenth woman or whether she was clothed.
The first body, discovered in mid-July, was found naked. The deceased had been restrained by cable ties. Her boyfriend was later arrested, but no charges were filed.
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