Gauteng police have warned residents of Kempton Park to exercise caution when meeting people arranged through online dating platforms, after a number of incidents in which victims were lured to meeting places and then robbed or, in some instances, sexually assaulted.
Police detail scale of reported scams
Acting Gauteng police commissioner Fred Kekana met senior officers in the area as investigators worked on several separate and serious cases, including the recent discovery of four women’s bodies over a two-month period. While the killings are being probed as distinct matters, the online dating complaints emerged as a separate pattern requiring urgent policing attention, police said.
According to Kempton Park police station records, about 10 cases have been reported in which people met potential partners online and were subsequently lured to locations where they were allegedly robbed or sexually assaulted.
"Approximately 10 cases have been reported at Kempton Park Police Station, where individuals met people online and were subsequently lured to locations where they were allegedly robbed or sexually assaulted,"
Kekana emphasised that the dating scams are not linked to the disappearance and death of runner Elizabeth 'Tsontso' Moselakgomo, saying her lifestyle included exercising and running and that investigators would seek the truth around her death separately.
Police response and public advice
Senior police officials visited Kempton Park as part of an intensified investigative effort. The visit aimed to coordinate local policing resources and review investigative leads across both the violent crime matters and the online-facilitated robberies.
Police cautioned the public to be vigilant when interacting with strangers online, to verify identities where possible and to avoid meeting in isolated locations. Victims are encouraged to report incidents promptly to the Kempton Park Police Station so that cases can be investigated and patterns tracked.
- Reported incidents: Approximately 10 alleged online dating scams leading to robbery and, in some reports, sexual assault.
- Concurrent investigations: Separate probes into the discovery of four women’s bodies in Kempton Park over two months.
- Police action: Senior Gauteng police leadership visited the area to intensify investigations and coordinate resources.
Context and consequences
Online-facilitated crimes, including romance and dating scams, have become a growing challenge for police nationally, complicating investigations because perpetrators often use false identities, temporary contact details and meeting locations that place victims at heightened risk. The Kempton Park matters illustrate the overlap between cyber-enabled fraud and serious violent offending, even when the two are not directly linked.
For victims, beyond the immediate physical and financial harm, such incidents can hinder reporting if there is fear of stigma or if digital evidence is not preserved. Police investigators typically rely on a combination of witness statements, CCTV and digital records from devices and platforms to trace suspects. Where sexual assaults are alleged, forensic examinations and timely evidence collection are critical to building a case.
Investigators in Kempton Park said they will continue to pursue leads in both the dating-related crimes and the unrelated deaths. Members of the public with information are urged to contact Kempton Park Police Station. The SAPS did not provide additional detail on arrests or suspects in the dating-related complaints at the time of the report.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Reported online dating-related incidents | ~10 cases |
| Unrelated violent incidents under investigation | Discovery of 4 women’s bodies in the area over two months |
Police emphasised that investigations are ongoing and that the public should not assume a connection between the online dating scams and the separate killings unless investigators establish one. Anyone with relevant information should contact their nearest police station or the Kempton Park policing team.
