DA adds R500 000 reward as hunt for Ekurhuleni women’s killer intensifies

The Democratic Alliance has added a R500,000 reward to the R400,000 already offered by police for information that could help bring those responsible for the killings of women in Ekurhuleni to justice.

The combined rewards now stand at R900,000.

DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane announced the party’s reward on Wednesday, saying it was intended to supplement the law-enforcement investigation into the deaths.

The party’s reward is for information that leads to the successful criminal prosecution of the person or people responsible for the killings.

Rasilingwane said information must first be formally submitted to the South African Police Service, with proof that it had been handed over to police, for the reward to be considered.

The DA will not accept direct tip-offs, according to the party’s statement.

Police have separately offered R400,000 for information that could lead to arrests and a breakthrough in the investigation. A specialised multidisciplinary task team has been established to investigate the cases and determine whether the deaths are connected.

The bodies of eight women have been discovered in different parts of Ekurhuleni over the past two months. Police have cautioned against prematurely concluding that the deaths were committed by a single perpetrator while investigations continue.

The latest developments have prompted calls for intensified policing and greater protection for women in the affected communities.