The number of women whose deaths are being investigated as part of the widening Ekurhuleni murder probe has risen to eight, as authorities work to establish whether the cases are connected or involve different perpetrators.
The latest development was confirmed on Tuesday night, 15 September, with Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia revealing that an eighth woman’s body had been discovered in Olifantsfontein on 14 September.
The development comes as investigators are already examining a series of women’s deaths across Ekurhuleni, including the discovery of a woman’s body in Clayville, near Thembisa Mall, on 7 September. That case was only brought into the wider investigation after police reviewed reports of bodies recovered in the area.
The Thembisa connection
The woman found near Thembisa Mall was believed to be in her late 20s. Her body was discovered in a river in Clayville on 7 September.
Acting Gauteng Provincial Police Commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana said police realised the case needed to be included in the broader investigation after detectives began reviewing other reports.
“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,” Kekana said.
“Therefore, this body will also then be included as part of those to be investigated by the whole team.”
Kekana said the woman was found with most of her clothing missing, although she was still wearing underwear.
He cautioned against speculation about how her clothing came to be missing.
Unlike some of the other cases, police said there were no obvious external injuries on the Clayville victim. A full forensic investigation is being used to establish the cause and circumstances of her death.
Eighth body found in Olifantsfontein
The latest case emerged as investigators were already dealing with the discovery of another body in the Olifantsfontein area.
According to eNCA, the body was discovered on 14 September, taking the number of bodies being considered in the wider investigation to eight.
Details about the eighth victim, including her identity and the precise circumstances surrounding her death, had not yet been released when authorities confirmed the development.
The investigation is therefore continuing as police work to establish whether the cases share a common perpetrator, whether more than one perpetrator may be involved, or whether some of the deaths are unrelated.
Why serial killer fears are growing
The growing number of cases has sparked fears among residents that a serial killer could be operating in Ekurhuleni.
Several of the women were found naked or partially clothed, while police have reported bruising and other concerning circumstances in some of the cases.
Police have also confirmed that four of the five women whose bodies were initially found around Kempton Park showed signs of sexual assault. One body was too badly decomposed for investigators to make the same determination.
These similarities have prompted authorities to establish a multidisciplinary investigation involving specialised detectives and other units.
However, police have not confirmed that a serial killer is responsible.
Acting Gauteng police commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana has stressed that investigators must follow the evidence before reaching conclusions.
In relation to the KwaThema case, police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said: “For now, we are not linking this body with the others, but we are not ruling out the possibility that it can be linked.”
That position remains important as investigators examine the wider group of cases.
The KwaThema discovery
On 15 September, another woman’s body was found in KwaThema, Springs, roughly 45km from Kempton Park.
Police said the woman was believed to be about 35 years old and was found naked and in an advanced state of decomposition.
A preliminary assessment of the KwaThema case indicated that the woman may have been strangled.
“The lady seems to have been strangled first on the neck,” Kekana said.
He added that a post-mortem would be required to establish the exact cause of death.
Police have not yet identified the KwaThema victim.
Only two victims identified
The investigation has also been complicated by the fact that several of the women remain unidentified.
Kekana said that, of the seven bodies included in the investigation at the time of his briefing, only two had been positively identified.
Forensic teams and health department pathologists are working to establish the identities of the remaining victims so that their families can be notified.
One of the identified victims is 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for a run. Her body was later discovered in Rhodesfield.
Her death has prompted renewed concern among women runners, with running groups organising memorial activities and calling for greater safety in areas where women exercise.
Police investigation now spans multiple areas
The investigation initially centred on Kempton Park, where several bodies were discovered between July and September.
It has since expanded to include cases in Clayville near Thembisa, KwaThema and Olifantsfontein.
The geographical spread has added to public concern, but authorities are yet to establish whether the locations indicate the work of one offender.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has called for the investigation to receive the necessary resources, while President Cyril Ramaphosa has also called for urgent action.
Ramaphosa said “no stone will be left unturned” in the investigation into the deaths.
Police have urged residents to provide credible information and warned against circulating unverified claims about possible suspects.
For now, the central question facing investigators is whether the eight deaths form one pattern.
Until forensic evidence, post-mortem results and other investigative findings establish a connection, authorities have not confirmed that a serial killer is responsible.
