EKURHULENI — Police have confirmed that the number of women whose bodies have been discovered across parts of Ekurhuleni has risen to eight, as investigators intensify efforts to establish whether the deaths are linked.
Officials confirm new discovery
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced the development during a high-level meeting in Parktown on Tuesday night, where senior police officials and investigators briefed government on the ongoing probe. Authorities said the eighth body was discovered in Olifantsfontein.
Acting Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana told the briefing that a woman whose body was recovered on 7 September from a river in Clayville, next to the Tembisa Mall, will be included in the broader investigation.
“After noticing that bodies had been recovered, we returned to our police stations. Unfortunately, it came to light that on the 7th of this month, the body of a woman in her late 20s was found in the river in Clayville, next to Tembisa Mall. Therefore, this body will also be included as part of those to be investigated by the whole team,” Kekana said.
Scope of the probe and preliminary findings
Police are treating the cluster of discoveries in and around Kempton Park, Springs, Clayville and Olifantsfontein as part of an expanded investigation. Kekana said investigators will "leave no stone unturned" as they work to determine whether the cases are connected.
For one of the latest recoveries — a woman found on the side of the road in KwaThema, Springs — a pathologist’s preliminary assessment suggested strangulation as the likely cause of death, according to Kekana. A full post-mortem examination was expected to follow.
Why identification matters
Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane emphasised the importance of identifying victims. She urged residents in and around the affected areas to come forward with information about missing relatives, saying identification will help focus leads and advance investigations.
- Identification: Authorities say faster identification of victims will assist in tracing movements and contacts.
- Forensics: Post-mortems and forensic examinations are under way to establish causes of death and possible links between scenes.
- Public assistance: Police are appealing to anyone with information about missing family members or suspicious activity to report to their nearest station.
Timeline of recoveries
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15 July | Kempton Park | First victim, a 37-year-old woman; a suspect was arrested two days later. |
| August | Kempton Park (two discoveries) | Two more bodies recovered. |
| 10 September | Kempton Park | Fourth body found naked and in an advanced state of decomposition. |
| 12 September | Location not specified | Fifth victim identified as 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo; she left home to go for a jog and did not return. |
| 7 September | Clayville (river next to Tembisa Mall) | Body of a woman believed to be in her late 20s; found clad in underwear; now included in the wider investigation. |
| 14 September | Olifantsfontein / KwaThema, Springs | Eighth body discovered; one recent recovery in KwaThema preliminarily assessed as strangulation. |
What this means for residents
The spate of recoveries has raised alarm in communities across Ekurhuleni. Police spokespeople said teams are working around the clock, combining local detectives, forensic experts and provincial resources to process scenes and follow leads.
Residents are asked to check for family members who may be missing and to report any unexplained disappearances to their nearest police station. Dimpane noted that some of the recovered bodies remain unaccounted for in terms of identity, which slows progress on building timelines and connecting the cases.
Police have not released details that would confirm a single perpetrator or a coordinated series of attacks. Investigators are proceeding cautiously as they gather forensic evidence and witness statements.
As the probe continues, authorities will hold further briefings to update the public on identifications, forensic results and any arrests. Anyone with information can contact their local SAPS station or the provincial command centre.
Note: Information in this report is based on statements delivered at the Parktown briefing by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, Acting Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana and Acting National Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane.
