VRYHEID police could soon make a breakthrough and arrest suspects for the butchering of two women, one of whom had her chest cut open.

The body of Bonisiwe Mabaso, 20, was found on Friday in Bhekuzulu Township. Her clothes had been ripped from her body, which was covered in blood. She had eight stab wounds.

In another incident, Buyisile Xaba, 46, was found lying under a tree by a shepherd at Mooiplaas, also in Vryheid, on Saturday. She had been cut open from her chest to her private parts. Her heart was missing.

Warrant Officer Jethro Mtholephi Khumalo said they believe the killings could be muti-related as a postmortem has revealed that not only Mabaso's heart was taken.

"In this case (Mabaso), we have information that might lead to the arrest," he said.

"In Xaba's case, the deceased was taken in front of her 2-year-old child.

"It seemed she had been suffocated as there were lacerations to her neck. It looks like she was killed somewhere else," Khumalo said. Buhle Xaba said her sister was seen on Friday.

"At the time, she was with my 2-year-old child. They cut her open and took her heart and lungs."

Meanwhile, the ANC Women's League in the Abaqulusi Region has called for a special investigation into the murders.

"We want the MEC for community safety and liaison, Willies Mchunu, to pay special attention to this area because we might be in danger of a serial killer," regional chairperson Esther Qwabe said.