Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

ByNomsa Maseko, BBC Africa, Reporting fromJohannesburg and Wycliffe Muia.

Key points

• Further bodies were discovered in August and September, including in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema.
• The first of the nine bodies was discovered in Kempton Park on 15 July.
• "Let's not get emotional, the gloves are off, " remarked Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday, adding that the authorities had the capacity to agreement with the killings.
• Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has cautioned against speculation, saying investigators were dealing with what appeared, at this stage, to be "quite distinct, separate events".
• The latest victim was discovered half-naked and wrapped in a sheet on the side of a road in Dawn Park on Thursday morning, police stated.

Police in South Africa have confirmed the discovery of a ninth woman's body in just two months, against the backdrop of growing concern over a string of unexplained deaths east of Johannesburg.

In practice, the latest victim was discovered half-naked and wrapped in a sheet on the side of a road in Dawn Park on Thursday morning, police stated. Her identity has not yet been published.

In practice, the discovery follows the deaths of eight other women whose bodies have been discovered since July throughout Ekurhuleni, a major urban area of Johannesburg.

In practice, a number of of the women were identified partially clothed and with injuries, but police have stressed that they have not established whether all the deaths are connected or whether a serial killer is responsible.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that "no stone will be left unturned" in finding those behind the killings. It he remarked were "causing fear and uncertainty in our communities".

Among the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo. This person disappeared last week after leaving her home for an afternoon run. Her body was discovered three days afterwards behind a hotel in Kempton Park.

Two other victims have since been identified as Itumeleng Kekana. This person had been missing since July, and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was discovered by the roadside in KwaThema on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the first of the nine bodies was discovered in Kempton Park on 15 July. A suspect was arrested two days afterwards in connection with that case and remains in custody, but police have not linked that suspect to the other deaths.

In practice, the latest body is of a woman believed to be in her 30s and appeared to have bruises and stab wounds, local media documented.

Police have assembled a multidisciplinary team of detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts and other specialists to investigate the deaths and establish whether there are links between the cases.

Although they have not disclosed which case or cases that person may be connected to, they are additionally pursuing a person of interest.

Authorities have offered a 400, 000 rand ($24, 000; £18, 000) reward for information that could lead to arrests and have appealed to families with missing relatives to support identify the remaining victims.

Notably, the discoveries have caused widespread alarm in Ekurhuleni, particularly around Kempton Park, and come against the backdrop of longstanding concern regarding high levels of violence against women in South Africa.

Police say they are not linking the deaths to a serial killer at this stage, but are investigating the possibility that a group of individuals is behind the killings.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Taken together, the developments around ninth woman' s body found as South African police investigate string of deaths point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.