The South African Police Service (SAPS) has bolstered its operational footprint across Ekurhuleni after the bodies of five women were discovered in the municipality since July, the force said on 14 September 2026. Authorities are examining whether the cases are linked as detectives pursue forensic and intelligence leads.
Increased deployment and specialised teams
Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, said SAPS had joined resources with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) to raise visibility and strengthen the operational response in affected areas. Acting Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana and EMPD Chief Isaac Mapiyeye attended a briefing on Monday evening.
Mosikili outlined that the enhanced deployment includes:
- uniformed patrols to increase visibility
- detectives and intelligence officers to pursue investigative leads
- forensic specialists to process scenes
- tracking and search-and-rescue teams, plus K9 units
Five bodies, one confirmed identification, one arrest linked
From July to date SAPS is investigating five separate cases involving the discovery of women’s bodies in the Ekurhuleni area. The most recent body was found on Monday morning partially undressed beside a road in Olifantsfontein, and is believed to be a woman in her 30s; investigators are working to confirm her identity.
On the same day the family of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo positively identified her remains. Moselakgomo had been reported missing after leaving her Roseville home on 9 September.
Mosikili confirmed that in the first of the five matters a suspect was arrested and has been positively connected to that murder; she did not provide further details on the accused or the status of any bail application.
“We have joined resources with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department to increase visibility and strengthen our operational response in the affected areas,”
The deputy national commissioner said investigators were comparing victim profiles, assessing similarities in how some of the women were found, and examining whether the circumstances indicate a single offender or multiple perpetrators.
Other developments and community assurances
Mosikili also confirmed that a woman who had been kidnapped in Kempton Park on Sunday was located and safely reunited with her family. The SAPS statement did not disclose whether the kidnapping is related to any of the four deaths under investigation.
Police stressed that visible policing will be backed by targeted investigative work, including scene examinations, intelligence gathering and tracing operations. The presence of K9 units and specialised search teams is intended to assist in locating further evidence and, where necessary, suspects.
Context and consequences
The discovery of multiple female victims within a municipality raises acute concerns about the safety of women and girls and places pressure on law enforcement to show swift investigative progress while respecting due process. If links between the cases are established, the matter could lead to an extended major-incident investigation coordinated across SAPS, EMPD and forensic services.
Successful linkage would also have operational consequences: pooling resources, issuing public alerts, and prioritising forensic comparisons such as DNA, autopsy results and modus operandi analysis. Conversely, if inquiries determine the deaths are unrelated, investigators will need to manage several parallel homicide probes.
SAPS has urged anyone with information that could assist the investigations to contact their nearest police station or the crime-stop hotline. The service reiterated its commitment to pursuing all leads and to keeping affected families informed as enquiries progress.
| Key facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Number of bodies discovered | 5 (since July) |
| Most recent discovery | Body found beside a road in Olifantsfontein (believed to be in her 30s) |
| Identified victim | Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo — reported missing 9 September |
| Arrests | One suspect arrested and linked to the first of the five cases |
The SAPS investigation is ongoing. Authorities have not released further forensic findings or charged anyone in connection with the other deaths. As police continue enquiries, residents in Ekurhuleni have been urged to remain vigilant and to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.
