Family’s search ends in tragedy as police probe linked deaths in Kempton Park
After 17 days of frantic searching, relatives of Itumeleng Kekana found what they had feared. The 32-year-old’s body was discovered on 3 August near a river alongside the R21 in Kempton Park, her family said, bringing an end to a search that began when she was reported missing on 17 July.
Relatives travelled from QwaQwa to Kempton Park, visiting police stations, hospitals, clinics and mortuaries, and searching fields, bushes and dumping sites. They called her phone repeatedly and monitored family WhatsApp messages, but there was no response until the call came to say a woman’s body had been found.
The family found Itumeleng partially clothed with bruising and injuries to her face, which relatives said left her unrecognisable. She had been living in Kempton Park with her boyfriend, and was the second woman discovered in the area during a period in which police have begun investigating possible links between the deaths of eight women found across Ekurhuleni, according to reporting by IOL.
- Last confirmed contact: 17 July — Itumeleng called her brother to wish him a happy birthday.
- Last seen alive: A colleague said Itumeleng was chatting on her phone around 19:00 and then stood up saying she would be back; that was the last sighting reported to the family.
- Discovery: 3 August — body found near a river along the R21 in Kempton Park.
The family told IOL that one of Itumeleng’s colleagues initially believed she had gone to meet a client, because she sold beauty and household products and worked as a tailor. The colleague contacted the family the next day to say Itumeleng was missing, adding that she did not know what had happened.
“That was the last time I spoke with her and she then disappeared,” said her brother, Themba Kekana, referring to their final phone call on 17 July.
Themba and other relatives rushed to the scene when they were told a body had been found. They said Itumeleng’s face had been badly injured, making identification difficult. The family’s account, as reported by IOL, emphasises the suddenness of her disappearance and the shock of her death.
Police probe and community concern
Police in Ekurhuleni have opened investigations into multiple female deaths in the municipality and are examining whether the cases are linked. The discovery of several bodies in a short period has alarmed residents in Kempton Park and neighbouring areas, fuelling calls for a swift and transparent investigation.
At this stage, public reporting does not include details from the SAPS about forensic findings, arrests or suspects connected to these cases. Family members and community leaders have urged authorities to provide regular updates and to ensure investigations are thorough, both for justice for the victims and to restore public confidence.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 17 July | Last phone call between Itumeleng and her brother (his 44th birthday) |
| 18 July | Colleague reports Itumeleng missing to family |
| 3 August | Body found near river along the R21 in Kempton Park |
Residents in Kempton Park expressed fear and frustration following the discovery. Many called for improved safety measures, better street lighting and more visible policing, particularly in areas near informal walking routes and dumping sites close to main roads such as the R21.
The family said Itumeleng was normally in regular contact and did not leave home without telling relatives where she was going. Her brother’s account highlights the strain on families when a loved one disappears and the additional trauma of finding them in violent circumstances.
Police statements and forensic updates were not available in the material reviewed for this report. The family’s accounts and timelines are drawn from reporting by IOL.
Local residents and community organisations are watching the police response closely. For many in Kempton Park, the case is a sharp reminder of the insecurity that can affect people going about everyday lives — and the need for clear action while investigators work to establish the facts and any connections to other deaths in the municipality.
