Ninth woman's body found as South African police investigate string of deaths

Further bodies were discovered in August and September, including in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema. The latest body is of a woman believed to be in her 30s and appeared to have bruises and stab wounds, local media reported.Police have assembled a multidisciplinary team of detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts and other specialists to investigate the deaths and establish whether there are links between the cases. They are also pursuing a person of interest, although they have not disclosed which case or cases that person may be connected to."Let's not get emotional, the gloves are off," said Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi on Thursday, adding that the authorities had the capacity to deal with the killings.Authorities have offered a 400,000 rand ($24,000; £18,000) reward for information that could lead to arrests and have appealed to families with missing relatives to help identify the remaining victims.The discoveries have caused widespread alarm in Ekurhuleni, particularly around Kempton Park, and come against the backdrop of longstanding concern about high levels of violence against women in South Africa.Police say they are not linking the deaths to a serial killer at this stage, but are investigating the possibility that a group of people is behind the killings.