The South African Police Service (SAPS) says a 21-year-old man will be charged with murder following the discovery of six bodies - five of them in an advanced state of decomposition - in a building in the main city, Johannesburg.
The local News24 site reports that the bodies were of six women.
"The [one] victim had her underwear below her knees. Her head and neck were covered with her skirt. All six had their hands and feet tied from behind," an unnamed eyewitness was quoted as saying.
Police said they launched an investigation after complaints of a foul smell coming from one of the rooms in the building.
The body of a woman was first discovered in the building, and her clothes matched the description of a woman reported missing earlier this month, a police statement said.
Five more bodies were found outside "where there is a makeshift workshop and rubbish dumpsters", the statement said.
"Unfortunately, the other five bodies are at the late stage of decomposition. They will be subjected to forensic analysis for identification," it said.
The 21-year-old man - who is believed to be the last person to have been seen with the woman - had been arrested, the statement added.
He is to be charged with six counts of murder.
Police have not yet given a possible motive for the killings.
Latest Stories
-
ShoreCare: KNUST students organise clean-up exercise at Allan and African beaches
31 mins -
Ejisu by-election was an election of inducement – Hopeson Adorye
39 mins -
Air Quality: World Bank unveils $1 billion guarantee to bolster clean air projects globally
44 mins -
Dumsor Diaries: The struggle of tailors and seamstresses to make ends meet
50 mins -
Chiefs standing to greet the president at public events is apt – Chieftaincy Minister
1 hour -
60 farmers in Kumasi receive training on traditional leafy vegetables
1 hour -
MP who allegedly bribed EC agents must be arrested – Mustapha Gbande
2 hours -
NPP’s Kwabena Boateng leading in Ejisu by-election
3 hours -
Dominic Obour: Beware of rented media and socio-political liars
3 hours -
Partnership launched to provide pensions for small-scale farmers
3 hours -
Ejisu by-election: Why would I bribe election officials in public? – asks Kingsley Nyarko
4 hours -
Vinicius scores twice as Real Madrid draw against Bayern in Germany
5 hours -
I’m doing well – Amerado assures fans after stage mishap
5 hours -
EC asks police to start criminal investigation into Ejisu by-election ‘white envelope’ bribery allegation
6 hours -
LPG Marketers Association kicks against NPA’s $80 per metric ton levy on LPG
7 hours