What began as one discovery has become a pattern no one can ignore. The bodies of six women have been discovered across Ekurhuleni, on Johannesburg’s East Rand, over the past two months – five in and around Kempton Park and a sixth in KwaThema, Springs. All black, all in their thirties. Police confirmed the majority were sexually assaulted.

The first body was found near the R21 highway on 15 July – a 37-year-old woman. A suspect arrested two days later remains in custody. Six weeks later, on 24 August, a 32-year-old woman was found along the same R21 stretch.

Then, on ten September, a third body was pulled from a spruit near Voortrekker Road, also off the R21.

Two days later, a fourth body was found behind a hotel in Rhodesfield. She was thirty-eight-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo – a runner who set out for a jog on nine September and never came back. Her eight-year-old daughter raised the alarm.

Yesterday, a fifth victim was found in Olifantsfontein. Partly clothed and bruised.

This morning, a sixth body was found beside a road in Springs – about 45 kilometres from Kempton Park.

Only two of the five Kempton Park victims have been identified. The rest remain nameless.

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane ordered a task team, while Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia condemned the killings and extended his condolences.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed no stone will be left unturned and is working urgently to bring those responsible to justice.