Gauteng police have opened an inquest after the body of an unidentified woman was found in a dam in Moroka, Soweto, on Sunday, 20 September.
The woman’s body was reportedly wrapped in a duvet when it was discovered at about 5pm.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the victim is believed to have been in her twenties.
“The victim is estimated to be in her twenties. The circumstances surrounding the incident are unknown at this stage,” Nevhuhulwi said.
The woman had not been identified at the time of the police announcement.
Police appeal for information
SAPS has registered an inquest docket while investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, including how she died and how her body came to be in the dam.
Police are appealing to anyone who may have information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
Members of the public can contact the Crime Stop line on 08600 10111 or submit information anonymously through the MySAPSApp.
Tenth female body found in Gauteng
The Soweto discovery comes amid an ongoing investigation into the deaths of women in Ekurhuleni.
On 17 September, SAPS confirmed that the body of another unidentified woman had been found in Dawn Park, bringing the number of bodies recovered in that investigation to nine over a two-month period. A multidisciplinary team has been assigned to investigate those cases.
The latest discovery in Soweto has brought the wider number of female bodies found in Gauteng to 10, but authorities have not established a connection between the Moroka case and the Ekurhuleni deaths.
SABC News reported that the Interministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide had been briefed on the Ekurhuleni investigations. The committee said a specialised multidisciplinary investigation team had been elevated to the level of the Deputy National Commissioner for Detective Services.
Authorities have urged the public to avoid speculation while investigations continue and to provide investigators with any information that could help establish the identities of the victims and determine what happened to them.
