BUTTERWORTH - Residents of Bawa Location near Butterworth in the Eastern Cape fear there may be a serial killer on the loose.
They say several murders have gone unsolved in their community in recent years.
The latest victim is 102-year-old granny Nontsumpa Mbayimbayi who was found raped and murdered in her home last week.
READ | Family speaks out after brutal murder of their daughter
Mbayimbayi's neighbor, Khulisile Luzipho, recalled the tragic incident.
"We saw a broken window and we believe that's how the attacker gained entry. We then discovered the body of the elderly woman. And it was clear that she'd been stripped of her clothing. We also didn't see any wounds, so we then contacted the police to investigate," she said.
Mbayimbayi's murder highlights the scourge of gender-based violence in the Eastern Cape.
Between January 2025 to March 2025 the province reordered at least 1020 murders. In total the province contributed 17,8% to murder cases in the period under review.
Women in Bawa village experience a heavy sense of dread, and panic as the night falls. They say they don't know when they might be next.