Johannesburg - The murder and suspected rape of an Eldorado Park woman was barbaric, Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane said on Wednesday.
“The brutal murder and rape of this young woman shows that we still have a long way to go in defeating the monster of drug abuse that is affecting the Eldorado Park community,” Mokonyane said in a statement.
Police said the woman's corpse was found on a dump site near a local school earlier on Wednesday.
She had a stab wound to her upper body and her pants had been pulled half way down her legs, said Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela.
Five men who were last seen with the woman had been taken in for questioning.
Mokonyane commended police for their speedy action.
“We doff our hats to the police for arresting the suspects so soon,” said Mokonyane.
“However, we urge law enforcement agencies to ensure that they put together a watertight case against the alleged perpetrators of this heinous crime so that they are locked away for a long, long time,” she said.
It was unclear whether the men had since been charged.
Mokonyane conveyed her condolences to the family of the dead woman and urged community members to report criminals.
Sapa