South African police discover tenth female victim in Ekurhuleni killings

South African police found a tenth woman dead in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, on Saturday, amid a series of mysterious killings targeting women in the municipality over the past two months.

The semi-naked body was discovered near a cemetery in the Tembisa township. Police spokeswoman Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed the discovery and said crime scene management teams were at the scene.

Provincial police chief Tommy Mthombeni indicated the victim appeared to have been stoned to death, with a post-mortem examination planned to establish the exact cause of death. Investigators have been assigned to the case to identify those responsible.

The previous nine victims were mostly women in their 20s and 30s, some found stripped and showing signs of sexual assault. The first victim was found in mid-July, and arrests have been made in connection with some of the killings, including two women suspects charged in relation to the ninth victim.

Authorities have offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to arrests, with additional funds pledged by the Democratic Alliance. Gender-based violence remains a critical issue in South Africa, with the government reporting a rise in distress calls to the national Gender-Based Violence Command Centre.