A president under pressure

Cyril Ramaphosa promised that "no stone will be left unturned" in finding who killed several women in and around Kempton Park, north-east of Johannesburg, over the last two months.

“These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women”

The count reached seven

Another body turned up on Tuesday morning. Police say the investigation now covers seven women, most found either partially or fully naked.

Not a serial killer, yet

Police are not linking the deaths to one killer at this stage. They are looking at whether a group is responsible, or whether someone is copying the first crime.

“[It] could be that it's a copycat crime that is happening right here but so far, no linkages as yet”

One arrest, two names

A person arrested over the first body remains in custody. Only two of the seven women have been identified so far.

She went for a run

Elizabeth Moselakgomo, 38, never came back from her daily run last Wednesday. Her young daughter raised the alarm, and her body was found on Saturday.

A timeline that widened

The first body was found in mid-July, the second in late August, the rest this month. On Tuesday police added a woman found on 7 September in a river next to a mall.

“we went back to our police stations… and unfortunately it came to light that a body of a female in her late 20s was observed in a river next to a mall”

Ordinary freedom, deadly risk

South African women are killed at five times the global rate, per UN Women. Police told women near Kempton Park not to walk or run alone in isolated areas.

“Women should be able to run, walk to work, use public transport, return home, visit friends and participate in community life”