Nine women found dead, Ramaphosa elevates investigation to highest level

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the investigation into the deaths of nine women in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, to receive the highest level of attention from the government and law enforcement. A specialized team has been placed under the coordination of the Deputy National Commissioner for Investigation Services.

On Sunday, September 20, the inter-ministerial committee on gender-based violence and femicide approved an emergency strategy aimed at expediting the investigations. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia stated that three persons of interest have been summoned for questioning.

However, police have not concluded that the nine cases are connected. Firoz Cachalia clarified that investigators are observing different modus operandi and motives in certain cases, without confirming the hypothesis of a single perpetrator for all incidents.

Eight of the nine women have now been identified. For one of the victims, no missing person report had been filed, according to the Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga. Authorities have urged families to report any disappearances immediately, without waiting 24 hours.

The ninth body was discovered on September 17 in Villa Liza, in the East Rand. Most of the victims are young women, and several bodies showed signs of sexual violence, according to information provided by the police and reported by Reuters. Investigators emphasized that it is still too early to establish a definite link between the various deaths.

The government has also initiated psychosocial support for the families of the identified victims. The emergency strategy combines elements of investigation, security, justice, prevention, and victim support, while police continue to seek testimonies that could advance the investigations.