Gauteng police have found the body of a woman in the Vusimusi section of Tembisa South, bringing the number of women's bodies linked to a widening provincial investigation to 11, authorities said on Saturday.
Police at scene, preliminary inquiries under way
Gauteng police spokesperson Brenda Muridili said officers could, for now, only confirm the discovery and that crime-scene management and the necessary role players were attending the scene. Further details will be released after preliminary investigations are completed, she added.
"Crime scene management and all the necessary role players are currently on the scene," Muridili said.
The body in Tembisa is the latest in a string of discoveries across the province. Ten bodies were found in the Ekurhuleni metro between 15 July and 17 September. A further case — a woman whose body was found in Moroka, Soweto on 20 September — brings the broader Gauteng total to 11.
Where the bodies were discovered
Police have emphasised they have not yet established that all the incidents are linked. Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili previously confirmed investigators were looking for possible connections and said a specialised team, including specialist investigators and profilers, had been assigned to the probe.
- Ekurhuleni metro: Nine women’s bodies were found between mid-July and mid-September across areas including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Kwa-Thema and Dawn Park.
- Moroka, Soweto: A body was discovered on 20 September and is counted in the broader provincial total.
- Tembisa South (Vusimusi): The most recent discovery, reported on Saturday morning.
Government statements previously named a number of victims discovered in the Ekurhuleni cases: Busisiwe Mahlangu, Itumeleng Kekana, Nomfesane Mjobo, Gracious Nkomo, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, Dineo Motapane and Jabulile Ntimba. Two other women remained unidentified or had identities withheld at the time of the government's 20 September statement.
| Area | Noted cases |
|---|---|
| Ekurhuleni | Bodies found between 15 Jul and 17 Sep (locations include Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Kwa-Thema, Dawn Park) |
| Soweto (Moroka) | Body found on 20 Sep (counted in broader Gauteng total) |
| Tembisa South (Vusimusi) | Latest discovery reported on Saturday |
Investigations, arrests and public caution
Police have warned against jumping to conclusions about a single perpetrator, noting differences between some cases in circumstances and possible motive. Investigators are treating the matter seriously: Mosikili said a dedicated team that includes specialist investigators and criminal profilers is working on the files.
Separately, three people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Jabulile Ntimba, one of the victims whose death was announced by government. Beyond that arrest activity, police gave no further public detail about the Tembisa discovery on Saturday.
Residents in affected communities have been left anxious as official information remains limited. The steady stream of discoveries across areas of the province has prompted an elevated response from national and provincial authorities and intensified policing in several precincts.
What this means for Gauteng communities
For families and neighbours, the unresolved nature of many of these deaths has created fear and a demand for greater transparency and speed in investigations. Police say they will provide more information as forensic and other preliminary work is completed.
Authorities have urged anyone with information that could assist investigations to contact their nearest police station. No official link has been established between the Tembisa discovery and the Ekurhuleni bodies; investigators are examining whether any connections exist and caution the public that differences in the cases may indicate multiple offenders or motives.
As the probe continues, Gauteng communities are waiting for answers about what may be driving this pattern of deaths and for reassurance that law enforcement will bring perpetrators to account.
