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The nine killings of women in their 20s and 30s in the
municipality of Ekurhuleni over the last two months has
triggered anger in South Africa, which has high rates of
violence against women.
Police have been investigating whether the killings were
connected, raising fears that a serial killer or killers might
be operating in the area.
The suspects, two women and a man, appeared in the Boksburg
Magistrates Court on Monday after being arrested in connection
with the killing of a woman whose body was found last week in
Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg.
Their case was postponed to Oct. 1 when they can formally apply
for bail.
Investigators have not linked the suspects to the eight other
killings.
Authorities have said it is not certain that all the killings
are connected, though they said they have identified
similarities in some of them and have issued an alert for women
in Ekurhuleni to take precautions.
Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said Sunday that so far there was
no conclusive evidence that the killings were carried out by a
serial killer, “but nothing has yet been excluded while
investigations continue.”
The bodies of six of the victims were found in the space of 10
days this month. Four of the nine victims were discovered within
approximately six kilometers (3.7 miles) of each other. Several
of the bodies were discovered in open areas near main roads.
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