Government has assured South Africans that it will stop at nothing to make sure its citizens are safe.

This follows the nine bomb blasts in Soweto, south of Johannesburg, around midnight last night, which left a 42-year-old woman dead and her husband seriously injured. He is being treated at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital.

Police suspect a tenth bomb could have exploded outside a temple in Bronkhortspruit. It is however unclear whether or not this blast is indeed related to the other nine blasts.

Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu said in a press conference in Soweto yesterday that the country was once caught in the same situation in the Western Cape but was able to contain it.

Justice minister Penuell Maduna said government was following all leads but refrained from speculation at this stage.

"Our primary duty is to find the elements involved and stop their activities," said Dr Maduna, adding that police would react with law enforcement.

Government has however appealed to the nation to remain calm but vigilant and come forward with information they may have regarding the bombings. Also present at the press briefing, safety and security minister Charles Nqakula said: 'We are in control of the situation. We are looking at everything.' The blasts damaged a mosque in the Dlamini area and also cut railway lines between Soweto and Johannesburg, according to police. Police disarmed two more bombs including one at a service station along the Old Potchefstroom Road.

The first bomb went off near the New Canada railway station shortly before midnight. The second blast rocked an informal settlement near Protea South, killing the woman, while she lay asleep in her shack. Shortly afterwards another explosion ripped a hole in the northern wall of the mosque.

The safety and security cluster is compiling a profile of the suspects as well as the type of bombs that were used based on the available information from their forensic experts.

Meanwhile, the ministers have set off to inspect the affected areas - BuaNews.