Three arrested after woman’s death amid femicide concerns near Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa. Police have arrested three people in connection with the death of a woman whose body was found east of Johannesburg last week, amid renewed public anger over violence against women.

The suspects, a man and two women, were arrested over the weekend and were due to appear in court on Monday.

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Investigation into killings

Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili said the woman may have been killed because of a “love triangle”, while stressing that the investigation was continuing.

Police have found the bodies of nine women in the Ekurhuleni municipality over the past two months and are investigating whether the killings are linked.

Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s. Some were found without clothing and showed signs of sexual assault.

Broader crackdown

South Africa has one of the world’s highest murder rates, and gender-based violence remains a longstanding issue. Many women say government pledges to address the crisis have made little difference.

“We are investigating the facts of each case thoroughly to ensure that we get to the real perpetrators,” Mosikili said.

She added that police had arrested more than 350 people for rape in the past week as part of a broader crackdown on violence against women.

Separate arrest in Sandton

Separately, a video showing a businessman threatening women at a restaurant in Sandton, Johannesburg’s financial district, went viral over the weekend.

The businessman handed himself over to police, was arrested and is due to appear in court next month. His company fired him.