BREAKING: Ekurhuleni women killings: Springs body takes toll to 11 as police widen investigation

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The discovery of a woman's body in an open veld in Springs has taken the number of women found dead in the wider Ekurhuleni killings to 11, as police continue investigating a series of cases reported across the East Rand in recent months.

The latest body was discovered at about 12:00 on Sunday, 27 September, near Rhokana Road in Springs.

According to police, a security company vehicle patrolling the area spotted the body and alerted SAPS.

A multidisciplinary team has been mobilised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the woman's death. The team includes the task team investigating the Ekurhuleni murder cases, Crime Scene Management, Investigative Psychology Services, detectives and Crime Intelligence.

Gauteng police provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni was en route to the scene on Sunday.

The latest discovery comes less than two weeks after police publicly identified nine women whose bodies had been found across Ekurhuleni since July.

The victims named by police included Busisiwe Mahlangu, whose body was found in Kempton Park on 15 July; Itumeleng Kekana, found in Kempton Park on 3 August; and Nomfesane Mjobo, found in Kempton Park on 26 August.

Another unidentified woman was found in the Clayville River in Olifantsfontein on 7 September.

Gracious Nkomo, 28, was found in Kempton Park on 10 September, followed by 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, whose body was discovered in Kempton Park on 12 September. Another woman, whose name was withheld pending notification of her family, was found in Olifantsfontein on 14 September.

Dineo Motapane was found in Kwa-Thema on 15 September, while Jabulile Ntimba was found in Dawn Park on 17 September.

A 10th woman's body was subsequently discovered in a dam in Moroka, Soweto, with police opening an inquest into that case.

The latest Springs discovery brings the number of women whose bodies have been found in the wider series to 11.

However, police have cautioned against prematurely concluding that all the cases are connected. Investigators are examining evidence, circumstances and possible links between the cases, while authorities have not confirmed that a serial killer is responsible.

Police previously made arrests in connection with the death of Ntimba, with investigators continuing to establish whether that case is linked to any of the other killings.

Further details about the identity of the woman found in Springs and the circumstances surrounding her death are expected once preliminary investigations have been completed.