Three young women whose naked bodies were discovered on Monday morning in Mamelodi, eastern Pretoria, have been positively identified by their next of kin, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.
The victims are Tsholofelo Aphane, Lerato Precious Dinisa and Lindiwe Mbonani.
Police spokesperson Brenda Kgafela said all three were residents of Section R in Mamelodi.
The bodies of the three women were found dumped behind a shopping complex in Mamelodi.
Kgafela said all three were possibly raped before being killed and dumped there, as they had only tops on. They were estimated to be between 17 and 20 years old.
”One of the women had her hands and legs tied behind her back and the others had only their hands tied,” said Kgafela.
She said the bodies were found at 8.30am behind the Phela-ke-Phele shopping complex at C5 Block L by passers-by who alerted the police.
The bodies were apparently dumped there during the night as they had not decomposed, said Kgafela. A white substance was coming out of the mouth of one of the women.
The tops they were wearing were black, white with black buttons and a grey vest, said Kgafela.
She said one of them had a heart-shape tattoo behind her left thigh. A pair of jeans was also found nearby. — Sapa