Mokopane women march for Ekurhuleni 12
Women in Mokopane have gathered for a "Walk for our Sisters" in support of families of at least 12 women murdered in Ekurhuleni since July.
MOKOPANE – A group of women recently came together for a “Walk for our Sisters” following a series of murders involving women in Ekurhuleni on Gauteng’s East Rand.
Between July and September, the bodies of at least 12 women, mostly in their 20s and 30s, were found in open fields, along railway lines, near rivers and in cemeteries in areas including Kempton Park, Tembisa, Springs and Olifantsfontein.
Some of the victims were reportedly found partially clothed and with signs of severe assault, rape or strangulation.
Police investigating possible links
Police and forensic investigators are examining whether the cases could be linked, based on similarities in how some of the victims were found and their geographical locations.
Police have not, however, officially linked all the murders to a single suspected serial killer.
The women were reportedly exercising when they were killed.
‘We live in fear’
Corné Schamrel’s daughter, Dané, is a first-year student in Gauteng. Concerned by the reports, Schamrel joined forces with Elita Wiid, mayoral candidate for the FF Plus, to organise the walk in support of the victims’ families.
“As parents who have children in the city, we live in fear. After every victim is found, you wonder how the family goes through something like this, how they process it and what we would do if it were one of our daughters,” Schamrel said.
“It made me realise that we, as women, must walk together for these victims and show the families that we care and stand behind them in bringing the perpetrators to justice.”
Wiid said the “Walk for our Sisters” was held as a tribute to the women who had been killed.
“We are still unsure what the connection is between all the murders, but when you look at violence against women and children, it is unfair to say women should watch what they wear when they exercise,” she said.
“We have the right to exercise, to get fit and to take care of our health. We have the right to exercise without fear.”
Task team assigned
A multidisciplinary task team comprising detectives, crime intelligence and psychological services has been assigned to the cases.
Although suspects have been arrested in several separate cases, police have not yet officially linked the murders to one serial killer.
