Residents of Vusimuzi, near Mooifontein Cemetery, were left shaken after the body of a woman was discovered on Saturday morning, September 26, with apparent signs of severe physical assault.

According to community members, the woman was found at approximately 6am near a street in the area.

Residents believe she may have been dragged towards the cemetery and possibly pushed through a small opening in an apparent attempt to conceal her body.

However, the circumstances surrounding the incident have yet to be established.

Community members said the woman was last seen at a nearby tavern in the company of a man. When she was discovered, she was reportedly partially undressed, with her underwear, tights and shirt removed.

Residents also reported visible injuries to her face, including an injury to her eye, which they believe may have been caused by a brick.

Community member Mese Selehelo expressed concern about the high levels of crime in the area and called for increased police visibility and the restoration of community patrols.

“We think those who do these things are people who know us. They are moving around and harassing us. We discovered this woman today around 6am, and we do not feel safe as a community. We had patrollers who have since gone AWOL. No one is patrolling our area,” Selehelo said.

Selehelo also recounted a recent housebreaking incident in which seven armed men allegedly entered their property, with five entering the house while two remained outside. The perpetrators reportedly stole their belongings before fleeing.

She said a case was opened at Thembisa South Police Station, but the family had not received any updates.

“Today we have a serious matter that threatens our safety as women in this community,” she added.

Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Tommy Mthombeni, who visited the scene after the body had been removed, addressed concerns about possible links between the killing and other cases involving women whose bodies have been discovered in Ekurhuleni.

Mthombeni acknowledged similarities in the circumstances surrounding some of the discoveries but cautioned against concluding that a serial killer was responsible without evidence linking the cases to a specific individual.

“The modus operandi is almost similar, but until you have that specific individual to link to this case, one cannot conclusively say it is a serial killer,” he said.

He confirmed that two suspects in Dawn Park had been linked to a similar case, while a July incident had not been linked to those individuals.

He added that investigators had identified connections and leads but could not disclose further details while investigations were ongoing.

Mthombeni also confirmed that a high-level police command group was overseeing investigations into the killings.

Additional police personnel from the provincial head office had been deployed to the area following an indication from the Gauteng Premier that a lockdown operation should be conducted.

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The latest discovery brings the number of bodies reportedly found in Ekurhuleni to 10. According to the commissioner, police from various districts, together with the Tshwane Metropolitan Police Department (TMPD), Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) and Gauteng Traffic Police, have been deployed as part of the operation. Drones are also being used to support the deployment.

Despite the increased police presence, residents of Vusimuzi say they remain fearful and frustrated, citing repeated experiences of crime and a lack of feedback on reported cases.

The woman’s identity had not yet been established at the time of publication. Police had also not confirmed whether her death was connected to the other cases involving women found dead in Ekurhuleni.

The investigation is ongoing.