The family of 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo will hold her funeral in Phake, Mpumalanga, this Sunday, as communities and officials grapple with mounting concern over the deaths of nine women whose bodies have been found across Ekurhuleni in nine weeks.
Investigations under way as mourners gather
Moselakgomo disappeared on 9 September while out for an afternoon run in Kempton Park. Her body was recovered three days later in Rhodesfield, according to reporting. Family members, friends, members of the running community and other mourners are expected to attend the service in Phake to pay their respects.
Police said they were investigating whether the deaths of the nine women found across the Ekurhuleni municipal area in a nine-week span are connected. Authorities have not yet confirmed links between all the cases, and investigations remain ongoing.
Community concern and calls for action
The series of discoveries has intensified public concern about women’s safety in and around Ekurhuleni. Community groups and residents have called for increased police visibility, faster investigative responses and stronger measures to protect women, particularly those exercising in public spaces such as running routes and parks.
Relatives and members of Moselakgomo’s running circle remember her as a devoted mother and a passionate runner who played an important role in her family and local community. Her death has renewed demands for decisive action from both municipal and provincial authorities.
Provincial support for funeral and family
The Gauteng provincial government has pledged support to the family and to mourners travelling from Gauteng to attend the funeral in Mpumalanga. The nature of that support was not detailed in the reporting.
Practical information and public response
Local residents and organised running groups are being urged to take care and to consider sharing planned routes with family or friends, particularly for afternoon and early evening exercise. Community policing forums and local ward councillors have been urged to liaise with SAPS to boost patrols in open public spaces.
- Disappearance: 9 September — Moselakgomo went missing while on an afternoon run in Kempton Park.
- Body found: Three days later — Moselakgomo’s body was recovered in Rhodesfield.
- Funeral: Taking place in Phake, Mpumalanga, this Sunday.
| Event | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| Disappearance | 9 September — Kempton Park |
| Body recovered | Three days later — Rhodesfield |
| Funeral | Held in Phake (this Sunday) |
Wider implications for safety and policing
Local leaders and residents have urged SAPS to increase visible patrols, accelerate forensic processes and improve communications with affected communities. The emergence of multiple cases in a compact timeframe has spotlighted the need for co-ordinated action between municipalities and provincial authorities to prevent further loss of life.
While investigators consider whether a single perpetrator or multiple offenders are involved, community organisations have also urged greater investment in preventive measures — from better lighting and safer routes for pedestrians and runners to community watch programmes and support services for families of victims.
Moselakgomo’s funeral brings these concerns into sharp relief for Mpumalanga residents, many of whom have ties to Gauteng and who regularly travel between the provinces. The funeral is likely to draw people from the running community and others who wish to pay their respects, underscoring both the personal loss and the broader anxiety about women’s safety in the region.
Authorities have asked anyone with information relevant to the investigations into the deaths to come forward and share details with SAPS. As inquiries continue, families of the victims are seeking answers and tangible action to prevent similar tragedies.
Editor’s note: This report summarises the facts reported about the disappearance and death of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo and the broader police investigation into multiple deaths in Ekurhuleni. No additional details about suspects or forensic findings were available in the original reporting.
