Johannesburg – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned the public against circulating photographs of people allegedly linked to the murders of women in Ekurhuleni, saying it has not issued any identikit, wanted poster or suspect photograph in connection with the cases.
In a public caution issued on Friday, SAPS said members of the public should not share unverified information or images, warning that innocent people could be wrongly identified and targeted.
“SAPS has not issued any identikit, wanted poster or photograph of a suspect or suspects in connection with these cases,” the police said.
The warning comes amid the circulation of photographs on social media of people allegedly linked to the murders.
Police said sharing such material could have serious consequences.
“Members of the public are cautioned against sharing unverified information, as this could result in innocent people being wrongly identified, harassed or targeted,” SAPS said.
The police service said it would issue official communication if a suspect is positively identified and investigators require assistance from the public.
“SAPS will communicate officially should any suspect be positively identified and should the public’s assistance be required,” the statement said.
Police also assured communities that investigators are pursuing leads in an effort to establish the circumstances surrounding the murders and identify those responsible.
“SAPS assures the public that it is seized with these cases and is following every lead that may assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding the murders and identifying those responsible,” it said.
Communities were urged to rely on official SAPS communication channels for updates and to report information that could assist the investigation directly to police.
The warning was issued under the hashtags #EndGBVF, #DeleteDontShare and #ResponsibleSocialMediaUse, as SAPS urged the public to exercise caution when sharing information about the cases.
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Picture: Facebook / SAPS
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
