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Nine women have been found dead near Johannesburg in just two months, sparking fears a serial killer could be on the loose.
South African police said on Thursday that a ninth woman's body had been discovered in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
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body → see → Johannesburg
All nine bodies have been found in the municipality over the past two months, with police investigating whether the deaths are linked.
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deaths → find → months
Officers previously said similarities between the first eight killings were 'sufficiently concerning' enough to issue a public warning.
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similarities → say → warning
The discoveries have sparked a major investigation and renewed concern over femicide and violent crime in South Africa.
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discoveries → spark → Africa
Police said the discovery of the latest body early on Thursday 'will be added to the investigations into the deaths of women in Ekurhuleni'.
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discovery → say → Ekurhuleni
Police warned against circulating photos of the bodies on social media.
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Police → warn → media
Provincial police commissioner Fred Kekana said a passerby found the woman's body near a construction site and alerted police.
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passerby → say → police
The unidentified woman appeared to be about 30 and had an apparent stab wound to her side, while her throat appeared to have been cut, he said.
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he → appear → side
Forensic investigators had not yet determined the official cause of death.
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investigators → determine → death
Kekana said police had not established whether her death was linked to the other cases and appealed for information.
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death → say → information
Local residents stand at the scene where the body of one of the women was found dumped on the side of a road in Boksburg, Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday
Members of the South African Police Service investigate at the scene where the body of one of the women was found dumped on the side of a road in Boksburg
He also urged people not to circulate photographs of the bodies or unverified reports on social media, warning that they were spreading fear and could encourage copycat crimes.
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they → stand → crimes
Residents of Dawn Park, the Johannesburg suburb where the ninth body was found on Thursday, were stunned by the discovery.
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body → find → discovery
'I hope the government can assist us by arresting the person or people who have been committing these killings, because the current situation is becoming unbearable.
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situation → hope → killings
We don't know what's to happen next,' said Nomgqibelo Tshabalala, a Dawn Park resident.
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Tshabalala → know → ?
A multidisciplinary team of experts is investigating.
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team → investigate → experts
Families should report any missing relatives immediately.
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Families → report → relatives
So far, bodies have been found across several Ekurhuleni communities, including Kempton Park, Pomona, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, Rhodesfield, KwaThema and Dawn Park.
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bodies → find → Park
Panyaza Lesufi, the premier of Gauteng province, said police were making progress in two or three cases, although he did not provide details.
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he → say → details
He urged the public to give investigators time to gather sufficient evidence.
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He → urge → evidence
'They've declared war against the state.
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They → declare → state
We'll respond,' Lesufi told reporters at the scene.
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Lesufi → respond → scene
'We're not going to surrender.'
Missing In Southern Africa, which supports missing people and their families, urged communities and families to report immediately when they suspected that one of their relatives might be missing.
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one → go → relatives
The organization said the discoveries had deepened the anguish of families searching for loved ones.
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discoveries → say → ones
'There is no waiting period to report a missing person,' it said.
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it → be → person
'The moment you suspect that someone is missing, report it immediately to the South African Police Service.'
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someone → suspect → Service
Community groups and faith leaders demand action to protect women and children
Running clubs across Johannesburg have this week organized memorial runs in honor of Elizabeth 'Tsontso' Moselakgomo, the woman who disappeared last week while jogging and was found dead several days later.
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who → demand → Moselakgomo
Some communities across Gauteng, which includes Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, have held prayer services for the victims.
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which → include → victims
Women's rights advocates, political parties and civil society organizations marched to Kempton Park Police Station on Thursday, demanding stronger measures to protect women and children and hold perpetrators accountable.
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perpetrators → march → women
A coalition representing more than 1,000 faith leaders, activists and partner organizations called for tougher action against gender-based violence and more accountability.
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coalition → represent → violence
They urged those at the top of religious hierarchies to address the issue openly and help survivors obtain shelter, counseling and legal assistance.
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survivors → urge → shelter
'Too often, silence from the pulpit has stood in for the courage to name gender-based violence directly,' it said.
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it → stand → violence
'That silence must end.'
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silence → end → ?
The Aporia
