By Levy Masiteng
Police should treat the killing of eight women across Ekurhuleni as a potential serial-murder investigation until evidence shows otherwise, one of South Africa’s best-known forensic psychologists has said.
“Due to the relatively close geographic proximity and time frame of the murders and the similar victimology, it makes sense to treat this as a serial until information to the contrary comes to light,” Dr Gérard Labuschagne told Inside Politics.
Labuschagne led the SAPS Investigative Psychology Section for 14 years before resigning at the rank of brigadier in 2016.
While investigators work to determine whether the cases are linked or involve different perpetrators, women in communities across Ekurhuleni say the uncertainty is changing how they live and move through their neighbourhoods.
“Each and every day now we are afraid as ladies to walk around because we keep on asking ourselves, who’s next?” Millicent Matjawela told Inside Politics.
The most recent body was discovered behind Club 69 in KwaThema, Springs, on Tuesday morning. The police investigation now covers eight women’s deaths in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein and KwaThema over the past two months.
One suspect has been arrested in connection with one of the July killings and police are pursuing another person of interest.
Police initially counted the KwaThema discovery as the sixth case, but later added two earlier cases to the investigation.
Labuschagne said that he had not been involved in the investigation and could therefore not reach a definitive conclusion about whether a serial offender was responsible.
“As I haven’t been involved I can’t give a definitive opinion,” he said. But he said SAPS policy on serial murder investigations existed precisely to allow specialist resources to be brought in when cases showed possible links.
“There are still some very experienced serial murder investigators such as Lieutenant Colonel Mike Van Aardt who is at SAPS head office, who should be involved in something like this,” Labuschagne said.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane have cautioned against drawing conclusions before investigators establish whether there is a pattern.
Police have assembled a multidisciplinary investigation team involving specialist detectives, forensic experts, tracking capabilities, K9 resources and investigative psychology.
A R400,000 reward has also been offered for information that could assist investigators.
“I can give you the assurance, based on past experience, that when it comes to such situations, the SAPS has the experience, the high-level expertise, to investigate cases of this kind,” Cachalia said.
But for the women living in the city, the lack of answers has itself become a source of fear.
“To be honest, I don’t feel safe at all,” Millicent said.
She said what frightened her most was that the women who died were not necessarily venturing into places they regarded as dangerous.
“They never thought or they had never seen that place as a threat,” she said.
“It’s like me taking a walk right now, or trying to exercise. I’m just running around the block. It’s the place where we’re supposed to feel safe and feel free, but not anymore.
“I’m trying to avoid quiet places as much as I can because I also don’t feel safe.”
Being alone on a familiar road now carried a different risk, she said, as women worried about being approached, abducted or attacked simply because they happened to be isolated.
“I’m scared every day for my life,” she said.
“We are afraid for our daughters as well,” Millicent said.
The fear is particularly intense in Kempton Park and Rhodesfield, where several of the bodies were found.
Kempton Park resident Nosiphiwo Galada told Daily Maverick: “We are scared as women of Kempton Park.”
Rhodesfield resident Pastor Portia Lesole said: “Enough is enough… A woman cannot be downgraded to this point.”
The Commission for Gender Equality has called for an urgent safety audit of affected areas, including street lighting, surveillance, pedestrian routes, public transport points, poorly monitored spaces, police visibility and emergency assistance.
“Women should not have to be killed before an area receives heightened attention,” the commission said.
The National Shelter Movement of South Africa has challenged the growing emphasis on women changing their own behaviour to protect themselves.
The organisation questioned why women should be expected to make themselves “smaller, more cautious or less visible” rather than asking what the state, police and society were doing to prevent violence against them.
Women for Change has also rejected the idea that telling women to be more vigilant is an adequate response.
Founder Sabrina Walter said: “Look at the lengths women already go to to stay alive.”
She said the number of victims who remain unidentified and the impact forensic delays could have on families waiting for answers was worrying.
Dimpane said formally identifying the women remained an important part of the investigation.
“The sooner we identify these victims, the quicker it will assist us to follow specific leads as well as to crack these particular cases.”
The murders prompted the ANC Women’s League to march from Rhodesfield Park to Kempton Park Police Station on Tuesday night.
The league said it was “profoundly disturbed” by the murders.
It said police stations should prioritise gender-based violence and femicide cases.
It also called for a national debate on harsher punitive measures, including the reintroduction of the death penalty and castration.
Sonke Gender Justice said the murders were more than a series of isolated incidents. “It is a public safety crisis that demands an urgent and decisive response,” the group said.
The Kwanele Foundation has also called for greater resources and action. “As a sister, as a mother, as a woman in South Africa, this is shattering. Our women in South Africa are not safe. We cannot be living daily in fear,” founder Sihle Sibisi said.
The South African Council of Churches said the murders were a national moral crisis.
“Women and children in our country have every right to live and move in safety and freedom. They should not have to restrict their movements and activities for fear of predators in our midst,” SACC General Secretary Rev Mzwandile Molo said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also intervened, acknowledging the fear spreading through communities, particularly among women.
“I speak for all of us as I extend my deepest condolences to all families and communities affected by the killing of women recently found in and around Kempton Park,” Ramaphosa said.
“These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, especially among women.”
Ramaphosa said he had spoken to Cachalia and Dimpane about the investigation.
“I have directed that these cases be prioritised and that no stone be left unturned in bringing those responsible to justice,” he said.
He also appealed to citizens to work with law enforcement.
“Our law enforcement agencies are undertaking this work in partnership with citizens, on whom we depend for any information that may help end these attacks on women,” he said.
Police have asked residents not to circulate unverified allegations or publicly accuse people without evidence as speculation spreads across social media and community WhatsApp groups.
Residents with CCTV, dashcam footage or information about suspicious vehicles or activity have been urged to hand it to investigators.
INSIDE POLITICS
