Two Women Charged Over Killing Of Ninth Woman In South Africa’s Kempton Park

Two South African women have been charged with the murder of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was found in Kempton Park on September 17, becoming the ninth woman discovered dead in the area over about two months. The women, aged 31 and 38, also face charges of perverting the course of justice and possessing a dangerous weapon. A third suspect was arrested but not charged because of insufficient evidence. Police are investigating whether the nine deaths are connected, while authorities have suggested Ntimba's killing may have involved a relationship dispute. President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged additional resources to tackle violence against women and find those responsible.

TWO WOMEN APPEAR IN COURT OVER LATEST KILLING

Two South African women have appeared in court over the killing of a woman whose death became the ninth in a series of killings that has alarmed residents in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg.
The women, aged 31 and 38, were arrested over the death of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was discovered on September 17.
Prosecutors have charged both women with murder, perverting the course of justice and possession of a dangerous weapon.
They appeared in court on Monday, while their next appearance for a bail hearing has been scheduled for October 1.
The charges are allegations and will have to be tested through the South African judicial process.

POLICE INVESTIGATE NINE DEATHS

The latest case comes as South African police investigate whether the deaths of nine women whose bodies were found in Kempton Park over a period of about two months could be connected.
The bodies were discovered in different locations around the neighbourhood, with several found beside roads and partly clothed.
Police have not established that a serial killer was responsible.
The investigation is continuing to determine whether the deaths are linked and whether there is a common perpetrator or motive.
Ntimba's death was the latest of the nine cases to come to public attention.

WOMEN ALLEGEDLY KNEW THE VICTIM

According to South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority, the two women allegedly knew Ntimba and were with her on the night she was killed.
Police have previously suggested that her death may have been connected to a relationship dispute.
Deputy police chief Tebello Mosikili said investigators were examining the possibility that the killing stemmed from a relationship-related matter, including what was described as a possible love triangle.
However, authorities have not established that this suspected motive is connected to the other eight deaths.

THIRD SUSPECT NOT CHARGED

A man who was arrested alongside the two women has not been charged.
The National Prosecuting Authority said the man, who is the brother of one of the women, was released from the immediate charging process because there was insufficient evidence at this stage.
His arrest does not therefore mean that prosecutors have established his involvement in the killing.
Investigators can continue examining his possible connection to the case as the evidence develops.
The decision also highlights the distinction between being arrested during an investigation and being formally charged with a crime.

FAMILIES AND RESIDENTS SEEK ANSWERS

The discovery of nine bodies in the same general area over a relatively short period has caused fear among residents and anger among families seeking answers.
Women in the community have expressed concerns about their safety, particularly when travelling alone or returning home at night.
The uncertainty surrounding the deaths has also fuelled fears that a serial offender could be operating in the area.
Police are expected to examine forensic evidence, witness accounts and possible links between the individual cases as they attempt to determine whether the killings are connected.

RAMAPHOSA VOWS ACTION

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday that authorities would use additional resources to identify and arrest those responsible.
He said the government would deploy more money, personnel and technology to address the fear created by violence against women.
“We will be pulling out all stops to find these perpetrators,” Ramaphosa told journalists.
His comments came amid renewed national attention on gender-based violence, a longstanding problem in South Africa.
The government has previously declared gender-based violence and femicide a national crisis and introduced measures aimed at improving the response to violence against women.

SOUTH AFRICA'S WIDER GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE PROBLEM

The Kempton Park killings have renewed concern about the broader problem of violence against women in South Africa.
The country has experienced high levels of reported murder and gender-based violence for years, prompting repeated calls for stronger policing, faster investigations and better support for victims.
Campaigners have also argued that preventing violence against women requires action beyond policing, including improved prosecution, community intervention and support for survivors of abuse.
For residents of Kempton Park, however, the immediate concern is identifying who killed the women whose bodies were found and determining whether the cases are connected.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES

The latest arrests bring the number of people detained in connection with the Kempton Park killings to three.
Only the two women have currently been charged in relation to Ntimba's death.
Police still have to determine whether the latest case is connected to the other eight deaths and whether a wider pattern exists.
As investigators continue gathering evidence, the October 1 bail hearing is expected to provide another stage in the legal process against the two accused women.
The case has placed renewed pressure on South African authorities to provide answers to frightened communities and the families of the women who died.