Tenth woman's body found in Johannesburg suburb, raising concerns about serial killings
Police in South Africa have discovered the tenth body in a Johannesburg suburb, sparking concerns about a potential serial killer.
In Brief
- •Police in South Africa have discovered the tenth body in a Johannesburg suburb, sparking concerns about a potential serial killer.
- •The latest victim was identified by a friend who was with her at a bar the previous evening.
- •The deaths have sparked a national outcry about the scale of violence against women in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world.
- •The bodies share similar victimology, indicating a shared modus operandi, which could link the latest death to the others.
- •Three men have appeared in court accused of being involved in one of the nine murders, with police working to track down others who may have been involved.
Why It Matters
The discovery of the tenth body in Johannesburg raises serious concerns about the safety of women in South Africa. The country already has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, and the recent spate of killings has highlighted the urgent need for action to address gender-based violence. The national government has declared gender-based violence a national disaster, but the recent deaths have increased pressure on them to take more significant steps to protect women and address the root causes of these crimes.
Key Details
- Number of bodies found
- 10
- Location of the latest body
- Tembisa neighbourhood, north-east of central Johannesburg
- Homicide rate in South Africa
- 5,427 people murdered between April and June this year
- Number of women killed and survived attempted murder
- 569 women killed and 1,052 others survived attempted murder between April and June this year
Context & Background
South Africa has been grappling with a high rate of gender-based violence, with the national government declaring it a national disaster less than a year ago. The recent spate of killings has highlighted the urgent need for action to address the root causes of these crimes.
Original Reporting & Sources
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