No woman should live in fear’: Kaizer Chiefs reacts to Ekurhuleni killings

Kaizer Chiefs has joined growing public calls against gender-based violence following the discovery of the bodies of nine women in and around Ekurhuleni .

The football club used its social media platforms to condemn the killings and express its support for the affected families and communities, as police continue investigating the deaths.

The message comes as the deaths have sparked widespread anger and concern across South Africa, with police investigating possible links between the cases.

The South African Police Service confirmed on Thursday that a ninth woman's body had been found in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni.

The body was discovered on September 17, bringing the number of women whose deaths are being investigated to nine.

Police have said that a multidisciplinary team has been mobilised to investigate the cases, while detectives continue working to establish what happened to the women and whether the deaths are connected.

In its statement, Kaizer Chiefs said it was “heartbroken” by the violence and killings in Ekurhuleni.

“No To Gender-Based Violence. We are heartbroken by the tragic violence and killings in Ekurhuleni. Kaizer Chiefs FC condemns Gender-Based Violence and the senseless loss of life in our communities,” the club said.

The club extended its condolences to the families affected and specifically addressed residents of Kempton Park and other parts of the East Rand.

“To the people of Kempton Park & other parts of the East Rand, we stand with you. No woman should live in fear. Enough is Enough!” it said.

The statement comes at a time when the killings have placed renewed focus on the safety of women in Gauteng and South Africa's broader gender-based violence crisis.

The first cluster of cases emerged in Kempton Park, where police warned women in the area to exercise caution after four women's bodies were found over about two months.

Police said there were concerning similarities in some of the cases, including the locations where the bodies were found and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

At that stage, however, SAPS stressed that it had not confirmed that the deaths were linked to a serial killer.