12 women killed in Ekurhuleni in less than two months as police investigate - IOL

Twelve women have been killed in Ekurhuleni in less than two months, with the latest shot dead on her way to work as police investigate a string of killings and body discoveries.

The 23-year-old woman was shot and killed in Temong, Mapungubwe Street, Tembisa, at about 5.45am yesterday while reportedly on her way to work. Her belongings were taken during an alleged robbery.

National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the latest shooting was being investigated as a murder and robbery, but police had not found a link to the other cases.

“Preliminary investigations have not established any link between this incident and the recent cases involving the bodies of women found in Ekurhuleni,” Mathe said.

The woman has since been identified as Boitumelo Gift Mashita. No arrests have been made, and police are following up on leads.

The latest death comes as police investigate the discovery of another woman’s body near a railway line in Springs on Sunday, September 27.

Mathe said the investigation and tracing of perpetrators linked to the other women’s bodies found in Ekurhuleni remained under way, with police following all available leads.

Police have, however, arrested a 36-year-old suspect in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was found at Mooifontein Cemetery in Tembisa on Saturday, September 26. The suspect was arrested in Limpopo hours later.

Mathe said the suspect was arrested in Mohlabaneng village in Limpopo at about 11pm on Saturday after allegedly fleeing to the province following the murder.

The suspect is expected to appear before the Tembisa Magistrate’s Court tomorrow on a murder charge.

Mathe said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the murder was continuing.

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane commended the multidisciplinary team involved in tracing and apprehending the suspect.

“I commend this multidisciplinary team for their swift response, coordination, and determination, which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect on the same day. This is the kind of policing we expect from our members. We will continue to pursue perpetrators of murder and gender-based violence and femicide and ensure that they face the full might of the law,” Dimpane said.

With investigations into the deaths continuing, crime expert Yusuf Abramjee said the number of cases required an urgent and coordinated investigation, while warning against concluding the cases before evidence established a connection.

“Each case must be investigated on its own evidence while detectives simultaneously look for common links,” Abramjee said.

He said investigators should cross-reference DNA, fingerprints, CCTV footage, cellphone records, and the movements and associations of victims and suspects, while also examining whether there were common locations, vehicles, suspects, or other recurring patterns.

“Any DNA or other evidence recovered from the scenes should be processed as a matter of urgency and checked against existing databases and evidence from other cases,” he said.

Abramjee cautioned against speculation that a serial offender or single perpetrator could be responsible for the deaths, saying any such determination had to be evidence-led.

The Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) said the deaths were happening within a justice system that already struggles to follow through once cases of violence against women are reported.

CSVR said its July report, Justice Denied, Silence Maintained, based on community dialogues in Diepsloot, Alexandra, Tembisa, Orange Farm, and Soweto, found that women who come forward after experiencing violence are often met with disbelief and poor case handling by institutions meant to assist them.

The organisation said one national study of nearly 4,000 rape cases found prosecutors declined to proceed with 31% of cases, while only 9% resulted in a conviction. It also cited an Amnesty International survey which found that 81% of survivors were never told how their cases were progressing.

“What’s missing is the ordinary, funded, day-to-day follow-through that would let a woman get home safely, or be found quickly if she goes missing, instead of turning up weeks later as an unidentified body a forensics unit is trying to put a name to,” the organisation said.

CSVR called for SAPS and Gauteng authorities to properly resource the Ekurhuleni investigation, urgently identify the women and keep affected families informed.

Police have appealed to anyone with information to contact their local police station, Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or send tip-offs through the MySAPS app.