Serial killer on the loose fear in Cape Town after female body found near Century City station

An active serial killer is feared to be on the loose in Cape Town, South Africa.

Police made the alarming announcement today (17 December) after the discovery of a shallow grave containing the body of a woman.

The remains were near to Century City station and are believed to belong the fifth female victim of the same killer.

Local media reported four other bodies have been found in the same part of the city during this year, two months apart.

A police source told The Cape Times: "At this stage, it's all murder cases, but the modus operandi is the same. We suspect a serial killer."

The female bodies found in shallow graves were all unclothed with their hands tied behind their backs.

They were also badly decomposed, meaning taking fingerprints was not possible.

"We do suspect rape but the bodies are so decomposed, we could not identify any of them," said the police source. "One body has been found every second month."