Two South African women have appeared in court over the killing of one of nine women found dead east of Johannesburg, in a series of murders that has sparked fear and anger.
The women, aged 31 and 38, appeared on Monday charged with murder, perverting the course of justice and possession of a dangerous weapon, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
The nine bodies were discovered in Kempton Park between July 15 and mid-September. Police are investigating whether a serial killer or killers were responsible.
The accused were arrested over the weekend in connection with the killing of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was found partly clothed beside a road on September 17. She was the ninth victim.
The NPA said the women knew Ntimba and were allegedly with her on the night of the killing. Deputy police chief Tebello Mosikili said the motive may have involved a relationship dispute.
A male suspect arrested alongside them was not charged due to insufficient evidence. The women are due back in court for a bail hearing on October 1.
A man arrested over another of the killings remains in custody and is due back in court on October 28.
President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged on Monday to bring those responsible to justice and devote more resources to tackling violence against women.
“We will be pulling out all stops to find these perpetrators,” he told journalists.
Widespread violence against women
Separately, police said another woman was found dead on Sunday in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, her body wrapped in a duvet and dumped near a dam.
Police also said two alleged serial rapists were due in court in KwaZulu-Natal province. A 46-year-old man has been linked by DNA to 16 rape cases in Durban, while a 36-year-old man has been linked to at least 14 cases across two provinces.
One in three women in South Africa experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime, according to official data.
Gender-based violence remains endemic despite years of government pledges to tackle it and its declaration as a national disaster.
South Africa also has one of the world’s highest murder rates, with more than 60 people killed each day on average.
Senior police officer faces rape charges
As authorities face mounting pressure to tackle violence against women, allegations against one of the country’s most senior police officers have also put the force itself under scrutiny.
Suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya appeared in court on Tuesday on rape and sexual grooming charges in a case unrelated to the killings.
Police said he is accused of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl between July and August 2026 and raping an 18-year-old woman at a hotel in Johannesburg’s Sandton district.
Sibiya faces five charges, including rape, human trafficking and three relating to child sexual grooming, the NPA said. His case was postponed to September 29.
Acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane said the force’s commitment to tackling gender-based violence must apply within its own ranks.
“Rank, position or seniority cannot place anyone above the law,” she said.
Sibiya was suspended last year over allegations of interference in investigations into political killings. A judicial commission probing corruption within the security services has also recommended that he face criminal investigation.
