A security patrol found the body of a woman in her 20s in an open veld near Rhokana Road in Springs on Sunday, taking the number of women found dead across Ekurhuleni since July to 11.
The discovery came less than 24 hours after the body of Ntombifuthi Nxumalo was found naked at Mooifontein Cemetery in the Vusimusi section of Thembisa South. She had serious head injuries and stones were found around her body. Police are investigating whether she was stoned to death.
The latest death has deepened fear in communities across the east of Gauteng, where women's bodies have been found in fields, near roads, beside a railway line, in a river and behind buildings. Several of the victims were partially clothed or naked, and some had bruises or other injuries.
Yet police have still not established that the deaths were caused by one killer, or that every case is connected.
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni visited the Springs crime scene on Sunday afternoon. He said the latest victim was clothed, although her top had been pushed aside, and that her body was not decomposed. Investigators found signs that a struggle may have taken place.
The woman was spotted at about midday by a security company vehicle patrolling the area. The patrol members alerted the police, who sent crime-scene officers, detectives, crime intelligence officials, investigative psychologists and members of the task team examining the wider Ekurhuleni murders.
Police said more information would be released after the preliminary investigation. The victim had not been publicly identified by Sunday afternoon, and the post-mortem examination is expected to provide further information about how she died.
The discovery followed an arrest in the murder of Nxumalo. Police said a man was arrested in Bolobedu, Limpopo, late on Saturday after investigators traced him from Gauteng. Residents near Mooifontein Cemetery told investigators that they heard a woman screaming and pleading for her life at about 11pm.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili said: "Preliminary investigations revealed that the deceased had been drinking at a local tavern with a female acquaintance before she left the premises in the company of an unidentified man. Residents living near the cemetery indicated that they allegedly heard a woman screaming and pleading for her life at approximately 23:00. Investigators traced the suspect to Limpopo, where he was arrested by Bolobedu police at Motlhabaneng Village."
No visible stab wounds were found on Nxumalo's body, but police said she had severe injuries to her head. Stones were found around her, leading investigators to examine whether they were used in the attack.
Her friend, Mamsi Ntuli, said Nxumalo's death had left her struggling to understand what had happened.
"Ntombifuthi's death is a very painful one. When I heard yesterday that a body of a female was found at the graveyard, I did not want to go, but I'm at ease now that the suspect has been caught. He should be given a life sentence."
The arrest has not ended the wider investigation. Police have offered R400,000 for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible for the deaths. A high-level multidisciplinary team is comparing evidence, locations, timelines, victim profiles and the circumstances in which each body was found.
The cases began with Busisiwe Mahlangu, whose body was found in an open field near the R21 in Kempton Park on 15 July. She was 37. Itumeleng Kekana, 32, disappeared in Kempton Park and was found on 3 August near Great North Road, in the Pomona area. Her family searched for 17 days before her body was discovered. She had bruises and injuries, and police reported that the body had multiple stab wounds.
Nomfesane Mjobo was found in Kempton Park on 26 August. On 7 September, an unidentified woman was found floating in a river near Clayville and Tembisa Mall. She was believed to be in her late 20s and was wearing only underwear.
Three more discoveries followed within days. On 10 September, the body of an unidentified woman was found in Kempton Park in an advanced state of decomposition. Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, 38, was found two days later behind a hotel in Rhodesfield after leaving home for her usual afternoon run. Her eight-year-old daughter had raised the alarm when she failed to return.
On 14 September, a passer-by found an unidentified woman in Olifantsfontein. The body was partially naked and bruised. The following day, another woman, believed to be in her 30s, was found behind a shop in KwaThema, Springs. Her body was naked and decomposed.
Jabulile Ntimba became the ninth victim when her body was found in an open area on Lama Street in Villa Liza, near Dawn Park, on 17 September. Two women, Tsakane Nester Msithini and Fortunate Masilela, were arrested and appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates' Court on 21 September.
They face charges including premeditated murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. Their case was postponed to 1 October for a formal bail application, and they remain in custody. A man arrested with them was released after police said there was not enough evidence to charge him. He remains a person of interest while the investigation continues.
Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said: "The two, who appeared before the court, have been charged and the case was postponed until the 1st of October. They are remanded in custody until their next appearance. The third suspect that was arrested has not yet been enrolled."
Police have increased patrols and visibility in Kempton Park, Springs, Thembisa, Boksburg and surrounding areas. Officers have urged residents to report missing people immediately and to pass information directly to investigators rather than circulating unverified claims and graphic images online.
Officials have also advised women to avoid isolated places, use well-lit routes and travel or exercise in groups where possible. Women's organisations have criticised safety messages that place the burden on potential victims. The National Shelter Movement of South Africa said: "Safety messaging should not imply that women can prevent violence simply by making different choices. The responsibility for violence lies with perpetrators, while the responsibility for protection lies with society and the state."
The fear is being felt most sharply by families who do not know whether missing relatives are among the unidentified victims. Residents have held vigils near some of the discovery sites, while women's groups have demanded stronger protection and faster answers from the authorities.
For now, the police investigation is moving in several directions at once. Officers are pursuing the suspect linked to Nxumalo's death, preparing the Dawn Park case for its next court appearance and examining forensic evidence from the other scenes. The discovery in Springs has added another victim to an investigation that began in July and has yet to provide residents with a clear answer about who is killing women across Ekurhuleni.