Two South African women have appeared before the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court in connection with the murder of Jabulile Ntimba, the ninth woman found dead in Ekurhuleni in a series of killings that has sparked widespread concern.
The two suspects, identified as Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini, appeared briefly in court on Monday, September 21. They were arrested alongside a man over the weekend following the discovery of Ntimba’s body in Villa Liza, near Dawn Park, on September 17.
The women face charges including murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice. Other reports also indicate that prosecutors have cited possession of a dangerous weapon among the allegations against them.
The male suspect, who was arrested alongside the women, has since been released after police said there was insufficient evidence to charge him. He remains a person of interest as investigations continue.
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Police said Ntimba’s killing may have stemmed from a relationship-related dispute described as a possible love triangle. Investigators, however, have not disclosed all details of the alleged relationship, stressing that the investigation remains ongoing.
The two accused women were remanded in custody and are scheduled to return to court on October 1 for a formal bail hearing.
Ntimba was one of nine women whose bodies had been discovered across Ekurhuleni since July. Police have been investigating whether the deaths are connected, although authorities have cautioned that there is currently no conclusive evidence linking all the cases or confirming the involvement of a serial killer.
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Adding to concerns, South African police have also opened an inquest after the body of a tenth woman was found in Soweto, further intensifying public anxiety over the killings.
The deaths have renewed attention on South Africa’s longstanding problem of violence against women. Police and investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding each death and whether any links exist between the cases.
