South African police discovered the body of a 10th woman on Saturday, September 26, 2026, near Johannesburg, marking the latest in a series of killings that began in July. The body was found at a cemetery in the Tembisa neighborhood, northeast of the city center. While investigators noted similarities in the way several of the women were killed, officials have not yet confirmed if the deaths are the work of a single person or a group.
The investigation began after three women were found dead in July and August within a 4.3-mile radius in the Ekurhuleni municipality. Earlier in September, fears of a serial killer increased when six bodies were discovered in the same area over a 10-day period. Most victims were in their 20s or 30s and were found in open areas near main roads, sometimes naked or partially clothed.
Gauteng Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Tommy Mthombeni stated that while investigators cannot rule out the presence of a serial killer, they lack conclusive evidence to link all the cases. He noted a "similar victimology" and "modus operandi," or method of operation, across the 10 deaths in Ekurhuleni and another in Soweto. Officers from the Investigative Psychology Unit, which handles complex violent crimes, have been assigned to the case.
For residents, the discoveries have led to a national outcry over safety and gender-based violence, which the government declared a national disaster less than a year ago. The violence occurs within a broader context of high crime rates; police reported 5,427 total murders nationwide between April and June, an average of approximately 60 killings per day. Families of the victims face immediate trauma, such as the friend of the 10th victim who identified the body by her clothing and expressed concern for the woman's surviving children.
What happens next: Legal proceedings are underway for individuals linked to specific cases in the series. Earlier this week, three men appeared in court in connection with one of the prior murders, and two women were previously arrested for the ninth killing, found on September 17. Investigators are working to identify the 10th victim and determine if her death matches the patterns of the others. No dates for future court appearances or a definitive timeline for the broader investigation were reported.