Police have confirmed the discovery of another woman’s body in Ekurhuleni, bringing the number of female bodies found across the metro in the past two months to 10.
The latest body was discovered on Saturday morning, 26 September 2026, at Mooifontein Cemetery in Tembisa South, in the Vusimusi section near an informal settlement. The discovery has intensified concern over the deaths of women across the region.
Gauteng police spokesperson Brigadier Brenda Muridili confirmed the discovery.
“A woman’s body has been discovered in Tembisa South, in the Vusimusi section, this morning, 26 September,” Muridili said.
“At this stage, we can only confirm the discovery of the body. Crime scene management and all the necessary role players are currently on the scene.”
Police said further information would be released once preliminary investigations had been completed.
What police know about the latest death
The victim was reportedly found semi-naked, although police have not yet publicly released her identity, age or details about her family.
Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni said preliminary information suggested the woman may have been killed by being struck with stones, but stressed that the official cause of death would have to be established through forensic examination.
Investigators and forensic personnel were at the scene gathering evidence.
Mthombeni said highly experienced investigators had been assigned to the case and that police would work to establish what happened to the woman and who was responsible.
At this stage, police have not confirmed that the latest death is connected to the other cases.
Ten women found dead
The latest discovery follows the deaths of nine women whose bodies had been found in different parts of Ekurhuleni since July.
According to the government’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, the victims previously identified in the investigation included Busisiwe Mahlangu, Itumeleng Kekana, Nomfesane Mjobo, Gracious Nkomo, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, Dineo Motapane and Jabulile Ntimba. Two other victims had not been publicly identified at the time of the government’s statement.
The bodies have been discovered in areas including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Kwa-Thema and Dawn Park.
The ninth victim, Jabulile Ntimba, was found in Dawn Park on 17 September. Police subsequently arrested two women in connection with that murder. A man who was initially detained was later released without being charged. The arrests have not been linked by investigators to the other killings.
Police have not confirmed a serial killer
The growing number of deaths has led to widespread speculation about whether a serial killer or killers could be operating in Ekurhuleni.
Police, however, have repeatedly stressed that there is currently no conclusive evidence establishing that all the cases are connected.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia previously said that the possibility had not been excluded, but that investigators had not established a definitive link between the murders.
There are similarities in some of the cases, but investigators still have to establish whether those similarities point to a common perpetrator or are coincidental.
Government escalates investigation
The deaths have prompted the government to establish a multidisciplinary specialised investigation team.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide said the team had been elevated to be coordinated by the Deputy National Commissioner for Detective Services, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive that the investigation receive the highest level of attention from law-enforcement agencies.
The government has also urged people with information to contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249 or SAPS Crime Stop on 08600 10111.
The committee has also urged families to report missing women immediately. Police have stressed that there is no requirement to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing.
Families and communities demand answers
The deaths have caused growing fear among communities in Ekurhuleni, with residents, women’s organisations and activists calling for urgent action.
The government has described the killings as part of the wider crisis of gender-based violence and femicide facing South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also addressed the latest discovery, saying he had been informed about the tenth woman’s body and describing the continued killing of women as a national concern.
For investigators, the immediate priority is establishing the identity of the latest victim, determining how she died and reconstructing her final movements.
Until those steps are completed, authorities have not established whether her death forms part of the wider series of killings being investigated across Ekurhuleni.
The investigation remains ongoing.
