The number of women found dead in Ekurhuleni since July has risen to seven, with police confirming that the body of another woman was discovered floating in a river in Clayville on 7 September.

The latest discovery, near the Mall of Tembisa, has added to mounting concern over a series of deaths that has left communities across the metro fearful and prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to direct police to urgently investigate the killings.

Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana confirmed the seventh body as investigators intensified efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Kekana said the situation was deeply concerning and appealed to residents to provide information that could assist the investigation.

His call comes as police seek to establish whether there are links between the cases.

The discovery of the body in Clayville was not initially included in the number of six women whose deaths had sparked widespread concern. Police have now confirmed that seven women have been found dead in Ekurhuleni between July and September 2026.

SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said police were intensifying investigations into the deaths and urged residents to remain patient while detectives worked to establish what happened.

The police have also increased efforts to strengthen community partnerships and deploy additional officers to identified crime hotspots.

The deaths have placed renewed focus on the safety of women in Gauteng and raised questions about whether more could have been done to prevent the killings.

Ramaphosa has directed police to urgently solve the Ekurhuleni cases, adding pressure on investigators to identify those responsible and provide answers to the families of the victims.

Kekana has appealed to communities to assist investigators with any information that could help crack the cases.

The latest development has also drawn a response from Ekurhuleni mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, who has called on political parties not to use the killings for political public relations purposes.

Xhakaza urged political parties to focus on the seriousness of the situation rather than turning the deaths into political point-scoring.

His comments come as fear continues to grip parts of the metro following the discovery of the women’s bodies.

The South African Policing Union has also condemned the killings.

SAPU said the deaths were deeply concerning and highlighted the continued threat of violent crime against women.

The union called on SAPS and other law enforcement agencies to urgently investigate the cases, apprehend those responsible and ensure that they face the full might of the law.

SAPU also called for intensified preventative measures and stronger interventions to protect women and children from violence.

The union said communities had a role to play in preventing and disrupting gender-based violence, urging people not to remain silent when they become aware of incidents or information that could help authorities.

In February, SAPU and its partners in the 1Million Voices Campaign launched Understanding & Combating Gender-Based Violence: A Call to Ubuntu and Action in Gauteng as part of efforts to confront violence against women.

For investigators, the priority now is to establish how the seven women died, determine whether the cases are connected and identify those responsible.

Police have urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.

The confirmation of the seventh body has further intensified pressure on law enforcement to bring clarity to the deaths and reassure communities that every available resource is being used to investigate the cases.