South Africa police investigate 10 women's murders near Johannesburg as Ramaphosa pledges action
Police in South Africa are investigating the killings of at least 10 women near Johannesburg over two months, while President Cyril Ramaphosa promises new measures to tackle gender-based violence.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Police in South Africa are investigating the killings of at least 10 women in an area east of Johannesburg. The body of a ninth woman was found in Dawn Park, and a tenth was later discovered in Tembisa Township. The discoveries were made over about two months, mostly in the Ekurhuleni area, including Kempton Park and roadsides near residential areas. Police believe some victims were killed elsewhere and their bodies dumped so they would be found.
Most of the victims were in their 20s or 30s. Some were found partially or fully naked, with hands tied, badly bruised, or in a state of decomposition. One woman had her throat cut. Another, 38-year-old Dineo Mutabane, went missing and was later found on a roadside, stripped and burnt. A runner, Elisabeth Moselekumu, was killed after going for a jog. Her body was found after a community search, and hundreds attended her funeral.
Police have not confirmed that the deaths are linked. They have warned against describing them as the work of one person or a serial killer, saying it is still early. The acting police commissioner has said investigators are following all possible leads. A multidisciplinary team, including the National Forensic Investigative Psychology Unit, has been assembled to profile victims and look for similarities and connections. Police have also said they do not yet know whether they are searching for a serial killer, a group of men, or a copycat. Three people have been arrested during the period, according to reporting, but no link to all the deaths has been confirmed.
The killings have caused public outrage and fear, and have renewed attention on South Africa's high levels of gender-based violence and femicide. Women have been urged not to walk or run alone and to avoid secluded spaces. Officials say the warnings are not meant to restrict women's freedom, but to encourage reasonable precautions. Critics say the advice unfairly asks women to change their behaviour instead of targeting men and perpetrators.
Runners have gathered in several places across South Africa to honour Elisabeth Moselekumu and the other women. Marchers called for visible policing, faster investigations and safer conditions for women. Some men joined the protests, including a group that usually campaigns against illegal immigration. Women described being scared to go to work, shops, or even run in their own areas.
President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation and admitted the government had not done enough. He announced measures including reviewing all unsolved gender-based cases within 90 days and fast-tracking the processing of DNA evidence. He also promised action to solve more crime, clean up unsafe spaces and target alcohol-related violence. Campaigners welcomed his words but said they wanted delivery, not just promises.
Experts say the country has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. Naima Abrahams from the South African Medical Research Council said between six and seven women are killed each day. She said risk factors include a culture of violence, gender inequality, childhood violence, alcohol use, gun availability and failures in the police and justice system. She said almost 50 per cent of women who were killed in a recent study had no identified perpetrator.
The investigation is continuing. Police are still trying to establish whether the killings are connected, while communities and women's groups demand that the cases be solved and that broader action be taken to stop violence against women.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News | BBC One | Channel 4 | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Police are investigating whether the deaths are linked but cautioned against assuming a serial killer is responsible. | ||||
| Police found a ninth body in a series of killings near Johannesburg. | ||||
| Reports described the victims, mostly women in their 20s or 30s, as having severe injuries and signs of assault, including a cut throat, bruising, tied hands, decomposition, and possible sexual assault, with one body believed dumped after being killed elsewhere. | · | |||
| Runners held marches to honour the victims and demand action. | · | |||
| South Africa declared gender-based violence a national disaster last year. | · | |||
| A forensic team was assembled to assess the case. | · | · | ||
| President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa cannot become accustomed to such violence and pledged a thorough response. | · | · | ||
| Several victims were found with hands tied, badly bruised, or in a state of decomposition. | · | · | ||
| South Africa has one of the highest femicide rates in the world. | · | · | ||
| A femicide prevention strategy has been developed but has not been adopted by the government for two years. | · | · | · | |
| Campaigners said women feel increasingly unsafe in South Africa, where gender-based violence was declared a national disaster last year. | · | · | · | |
| Investigators are following up on all possible leads. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
Sky News led with the discovery of a ninth body in a series of killings that could be connected. It stressed police caution about calling the deaths the work of one person or a serial killer, and included an emotional quote from a victim's brother. It offered less context on gender-based violence and the wider national debate than other channels.
- “Police in South Africa say the body of a ninth woman has been found in a series of killings that could be connected.”
- “Police are examining whether the cases are linked but have warned against describing the deaths as the work of one person or a serial killer.”
- “Are we going to sleep tonight? Not knowing tomorrow there's another discovery that is going to be made?”
BBC News gave the fullest account across its bulletins, from the first ninth body to a later tenth body and the president's national address. Its correspondents reported forensic detail, named victims, community anger, protests and expert analysis on femicide. It also carried the police's cautious line that no link has been confirmed, while noting public suspicion of a serial killer.
- “South African police have discovered the body of a woman east of Johannesburg, the ninth body to be discovered in two months.”
- “Police say they don't know yet if they're searching for a serial killer, a group of men or a copycat.”
- “This cannot be accepted as a normal part of life in South Africa. We must confront an uncomfortable truth. What we have done has not been enough.”
BBC ONE West concentrated on the protests and funerals, with runners gathering across South Africa to honour a jogger killed in the spate. It highlighted demands for visible policing and safer conditions for women, and gave emotional testimony from women who said they no longer feel free. Police caution about links between the deaths appeared, but the bulletin's tone was more focused on public reaction.
- “Police are investigating a series of murders of young women in South Africa”
- “All the bodies have been found in an urban area east of Johannesburg”
- “We need active policing. We need patrolling. We need visibility with police.”
Channel 4 framed the story around street protests and policy failure, with a studio interview with a gender-based violence researcher. It gave some of the most explicit detail on the victims, including signs of sexual assault, and pressed the government on why a femicide prevention strategy has not been adopted. The tone was critical of official warnings directed at women.
- “runners have taken to the streets across South Africa to demand action after the murders of nine women near Johannesburg”
- “Most of the victims were in their 20s or 30s and some showed signs of sexual assault.”
- “They're not asking men to stop the violence. They're speaking to us women who are the victims to change our behaviour and it's really not fair for us to raise our children to be vigilant all the time.”
Who was on air
People and organisations each channel put on air while covering this story. Channels' own presenters and reporters are not listed. Names as transcribed, and the list can miss people.
- 05:17 BST
Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa
“This cannot be accepted as a normal part”
BBC News · Wed 30 Sept - 05:18 BST
Dimaka Atsumunugodi, a rape survivor
“We should be taught that we have the right to say no.”
BBC News · Wed 30 Sept
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.