Anticipation builds as three suspects set to appear over ninth Ekurhuleni killing - IOL

Anticipation builds outside Boksburg Magistrate’s Court as a man and two women prepare to appear over the murder of Jabulile Ntimba, the ninth woman killed in the Ekurhuleni cases.

Anticipation is building outside the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court as three suspects prepare to appear in connection with the murder of Jabulile Ntimba, the ninth woman found dead in a string of killings that has sent shockwaves through communities across Ekurhuleni.

The three suspects - a man and two women - were arrested over the weekend by the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit following the discovery of Ntimba’s body in Dawn Park.

Their court appearance is expected to begin at 11am on Monday.

There’s heavy media presence anticipated outside the court as journalists gather for the latest developments in a case that has gripped the region.

Ntimba, believed to be about 30, was found on September 17 in an open area on Lama Street in Villa Lisa, Dawn Park.

Police said she was partially clothed and had suffered a fatal throat injury.

Her death was the latest in a series of nine cases involving women whose bodies were discovered across Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas over a period of about two months.

The nine victims are Busisiwe Mahlangu, 37, who was found on July 15 in a field in Kempton Park.

She was found naked with her hands bound with cable ties. A suspect was arrested two days later. Her cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.

Itumeleng Kekana, 32, went missing in Kempton Park on July 17. Her family searched hospitals, police stations, and mortuaries before her body was found on August 3 along Great North Road in Pomona.

Kekana left behind her parents and a 14-year-old daughter.

Nomfesane Mjobo was found dead in the Kempton Park area on August 26.

Details surrounding her death have not been fully disclosed publicly.

On September 7, an unidentified woman was found floating in a river in Clayville, near the Mall of Tembisa. She was wearing only her underwear.

Her identity has not been publicly released.

Gracious Nkomo, 28, was found near the R21 in Kempton Park on September 10. She was partially clothed and was later identified by her family.

Around the same period, Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, was found dead behind a hotel in Rhodesfield after going out for her usual run.

Her family later identified her. She was buried over the weekend in Mpumalanga.

On September 14, another unidentified woman was found in Olifantsfontein.

She was reportedly found semi-naked and with bruising.

Her name has not been released because her family still had to be formally informed.

The following day, Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, was found beside a road in KwaThema, Springs. Her family identified her at Springs Mortuary.

Preliminary pathology findings indicated that she had been strangled.

Then came Jabulile Ntimba, whose death on September 17 brought the number of cases under investigation to nine.

The sequence of discoveries has left residents fearful and families demanding answers.

The arrests came after three suspects were initially called in for questioning following the discovery of the bodies.

Police have since intensified their investigation, while senior law-enforcement officials have been brought in to assist.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has confirmed increased police deployments in parts of Ekurhuleni, including KwaThema, Nigel and Dawn Park. Authorities have also placed affected areas under heightened police operations.

“The community in Ekurhuleni needs to understand that their safety is our priority,” Cachalia said, stressing the government's commitment to bringing those responsible to justice.

Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service, Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, said all nine murder investigations were being treated as a priority.

“Our investigators are following all available leads and are working tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice,” Dimpane said.