Police in South Africa have discovered the body of a ninth woman on the outskirts of Johannesburg, deepening an urgent investigation into a string of killings across Ekurhuleni that began in July and has intensified public anxiety over the nation’s high rates of violence against women.
Ekurhuleni Killings Investigation Intensifies After Discovery of Ninth Victim
South African authorities have placed Kempton Park under lockdown within the Ekurhuleni municipality following the latest grim recovery. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the unidentified woman’s body was found in an open area in Dawn Park, Boksburg, on Thursday. Three of the partially naked bodies linked to the ongoing probe have been discovered in the area within a single week, prompting an increase in roadblocks and heightened patrols across affected communities.
The sequence of discoveries started on July 17, when the first victim was found naked and restrained with cable ties. While a suspect believed to be that victim’s boyfriend was arrested and taken into custody, police reported that no charges had been filed against him initially. That same suspect appeared in court on Wednesday as investigators work to determine whether he has any connection to the wider string of deaths.
Evaluating Links Between Cases and Examining Similarities Across Victims
While the first five bodies were discovered in or near Kempton Park, the subsequent victims were located in separate spots 25 to 35 kilometers (16 to 22 miles) away. Authorities have noted troubling patterns among the victims, who were all women in their 20s or 30s found either naked or partially clothed with similar bruising.
Commissioner Kekana noted that police are comparing evidence, timelines, locations, and victim profiles across all nine cases. Although officials cautioned that it remains too early to formally link the deaths to a single serial killer, they acknowledged that the similarities in the cases were concerning.
Among the identified victims is 38-year-old Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo, who disappeared on September 9 after leaving her home for an afternoon run. Her eight-year-old daughter alerted family members when she did not return, and her body was recovered three days later, inspiring a social media campaign by fellow runners seeking answers.
Multidisciplinary Team Deployed as National Leaders Vow Full Investigation
The South African Police Service has deployed a multidisciplinary team to handle the investigation. Authorities are offering a reward of 400,000 South African rand ($25,000) for information leading to the apprehension of those responsible. President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that no stone will be left unturned in solving the crimes.
Police leadership has urged women living in and around Kempton Park to remain extremely cautious, avoid isolated areas, and travel in groups.
Broader Context of Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
The ongoing recovery operations in Ekurhuleni have refocused national attention on South Africa’s severe rates of violence against women. According to United Nations data cited in police reports, the country maintains one of the highest femicide rates globally.
Official statistics show that the South African Police Service recorded 9,782 reported rapes and 12,590 total sexual offenses between January and March 2026, averaging roughly 108 reported rapes every day. Police data indicates that 4,620 of those reported rapes—representing 47.2 percent—took place directly at the home of the victim or the perpetrator. In November 2025, persistent advocacy from civil society groups led the country’s National Disaster Management Centre to classify gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster, following earlier 2022 research indicating that over 35 percent of adult women in South Africa have experienced physical or sexual violence.
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