Police believe the murder of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was found in Ekurhuleni last week, may be linked to a relationship dispute involving a possible love triangle.
TimesLIVE reported that Ntimba’s body was found at a development site in Villa Liza on Thursday. Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili said investigators had picked up indications that the killing may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter.
SABC News separately reported that Ntimba was identified as the ninth woman whose body had been found in Ekurhuleni during the recent series of cases under investigation.
Police point to possible love triangle
Mosikili told reporters that investigators were looking at a possible love triangle in Ntimba’s case, but said police would not release further details that could compromise the investigation.
Jacaranda FM also reported that police were investigating whether the murder was linked to a relationship dispute.
The Boksburg Advertiser reported that police were not linking Ntimba’s murder to the other eight cases involving women under investigation in Gauteng. Mosikili said detectives were still working to establish possible connections between the wider cases.
Three suspects arrested
Three suspects, two women and one man, were arrested over the weekend by members of the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit.
SABC News and TimesLIVE reported that the three were expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday in connection with Ntimba’s murder.
Police have not released further details about the alleged roles of the three suspects.
Police continue wider investigation
Mosikili said police had deployed forensic, data and fingerprint specialists as part of the investigation into the deaths of women in and around Ekurhuleni, according to SABC News.
The Boksburg Advertiser reported that police had increased visibility and awareness programmes in affected communities as investigations continued.
Police have cautioned that investigations into the wider cases are ongoing and that no serial killer link has been confirmed.