The South African government has said three suspects have been arrested in connection with the mysterious deaths of nine women across the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality.

The Peoples Gazette reported last week that the bodies of nine women were found across several areas of Ekurhuleni, including Kempton Park, in two months, causing widespread safety concern in South Africa.

Reports noted that several of the remains were found partially clothed and with injuries as speculation continued to grow on social media about the possibility of a loose serial killer in the area. 

Three persons have been nabbed for questioning in connection to the killings, according to Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, who spoke to journalists at a media briefing regarding the latest developments on the matter on Sunday. 

Mr Cachalia noted that eight of the victims had been positively identified, with the families of seven informed of their deaths, while authorities were still working to locate the family of the eighth victim.

“I can indicate that there are three suspects who have been called in for questioning and I have confidence from the report that I have received that the investigation would be completed sustainably. I also want to indicate that there are seven victims who are known and their families have been informed. 

“There is one case that we have identified a victim but I will not make an announcement yet because the family haven’t been informed yet because we need an address,” the minister stated. 

Speaking further, Mr Cachalia acknowledged public unease about the killings being the work of a serial killer but noted that the manners of which some of the victims died appeared to be different. 

“I know there is a lot of speculation about, I would say at this point it is premature to speculate along those lines. Some of the cases appear to have different modus operandi and motives but we are not excluding any outcome and conclusion,” Mr Mr Cachalia stated. 

The minister, however, reassured communities in Ekurhuleni that the government was taking their security seriously, stating that “we are deploying all these resources to assure the communities that their safety is a priority as well as our commitment to bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes to book.”