Ramaphosa Orders Priority Probe into Six Women’s Deaths in Ekurhuleni

By Staff Reporter

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered police to prioritise the investigation into the deaths of six women whose bodies have been discovered in Ekurhuleni since July, as growing concern grips communities and investigators work to establish whether the killings are connected.

The latest discovery, on Tuesday morning, brought to six the number of women found dead in Ekurhuleni in a series of cases that has raised fears about the safety of women, particularly in and around Kempton Park.

The first four bodies were discovered in the broader Kempton Park area over approximately two months. A fifth woman was found in Olifantsfontein on Monday, 14 September, while another woman’s body was discovered in the Kwa-Thema area of Springs on Tuesday morning.

The developments prompted Ramaphosa to intervene, saying he had spoken to Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane, who briefed him on the investigations.

“Our law enforcement agencies are working urgently to establish the facts, keep communities safe, and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice,” Ramaphosa said in a statement on Tuesday.

“I have spoken to the Minister of Police and the Acting National Police Commissioner, who have briefed me on the investigation. I have directed that these cases be prioritised and that no stone be left unturned in bringing those responsible to justice.”

The President appealed to residents to assist investigators with information that could help identify those responsible.

“Our law enforcement agencies are undertaking this work in partnership with citizens, on whom we depend for any information that may help end these attacks on women,” he said.

Growing Number of Victims

The latest deaths have intensified concern following the discovery of four women’s bodies in Kempton Park between July and September.

Police have warned that it is too early to conclude that the cases are linked, but investigators have identified similarities that warrant further investigation. SAPS has established a multidisciplinary team involving detectives and specialised resources, including forensic and investigative psychology capabilities, to examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and determine whether there are connections between them.

The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found near the R21 in Rhodesfield on 15 July. She was found naked and restrained with cable ties. A suspect was arrested two days later and remains in custody in connection with that case. Police have indicated that this case is being treated separately while investigators examine possible links to the subsequent deaths.

A second woman, aged 32, was found near the R21 on 24 August. A third unidentified woman was discovered on 10 September, with police saying her remains were already in an advanced state of decomposition. The fourth body was found on 12 September in Rhodesfield, shortly after Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo disappeared while going for a run.

Moselakgomo, 38, became the most publicly recognised victim after her disappearance triggered a widespread search. She left her Rhodesfield home for a run on 9 September and failed to return. Her eight-year-old daughter alerted relatives, who reported her missing.

Her body was discovered on 12 September near York Street in Rhodesfield, close to the R21 and the OR Tambo International Airport precinct. Her family positively identified her remains at the Germiston mortuary on Monday.

She was remembered by relatives as a devoted mother, churchgoer and professional, and as an enthusiastic runner who regularly trained in the area. Her death has prompted memorial activities and demonstrations, with residents expressing fear about the safety of women moving through the community.

Police Warn Against Speculation

The discovery of the bodies has fuelled speculation that a serial killer could be operating in the area. Police, however, have stopped short of making that conclusion.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has said investigators are examining the similarities between the cases but will not confirm a connection until forensic and investigative processes have been completed.

That caution has become increasingly important as the number of victims has risen. Former SAPS criminal profiler Elmarie Myburgh has argued that the deaths should nevertheless be investigated as a potential serial-killer case, warning that a fragmented investigation could allow a perpetrator to remain ahead of investigators.

Police have also expanded their operational response, working with the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department to increase visibility in affected areas.

Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said on Monday that 17 women had been reported missing in the Kempton Park area since January. Police had located 13 of them and reunited them with their families.

Mosikili also confirmed that a woman who was kidnapped in Kempton Park on Sunday had subsequently been found and reunited with her family.

She warned those responsible for the killings that police were following the evidence gathered during the investigations.

“If you are responsible for taking these women’s lives, your freedom is temporary,” Mosikili said.

Fear Spreads Through Communities

The killings have changed the way many women in Kempton Park view ordinary activities such as walking, running and travelling through the area.

Community members and women’s organisations marched in Rhodesfield on Monday following the identification of Moselakgomo’s body. Residents called for greater police visibility and stronger measures to protect women and children.

The concern has been heightened by the circumstances in which several of the bodies were found. Police have said some of the victims were partially or completely naked and had visible injuries. Reports have also indicated that four of the women were sexually assaulted, although investigators have yet to establish whether the cases share a common perpetrator or motive.

Police have separately warned residents about another disturbing pattern involving online dating and social-media contacts. Kempton Park police have recorded approximately 10 cases in which people who met others through online platforms were allegedly lured to locations where they were robbed and, in some cases, sexually assaulted.

SAPS has stressed that these cases have not been linked to the deaths of the women.

A Demand for Answers

The latest discoveries have placed increasing pressure on law enforcement to establish whether Ekurhuleni is dealing with a series of unrelated murders or a coordinated pattern of violence against women.

For families waiting to identify relatives and communities living with fear, that distinction matters, but so does the speed and effectiveness of the investigation.

Three of the five women found dead in the Kempton Park and Olifantsfontein cases remained unidentified as of Tuesday morning, according to reports. Police have appealed to families who have reported women missing to come forward and assist with the identification process.

Ramaphosa said the deaths had caused fear and uncertainty, particularly among women, and extended his condolences to the families and communities affected.

“I speak for all of us as I extend my deepest condolences to all families and communities affected by the killing of women recently found in and around Kempton Park,” he said.

“These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women.”

He said the government shared the concerns of South Africans and mourned the women whose lives had been taken.

“As a nation, we must stand up for the rights, safety and dignity of women and girls,” Ramaphosa said.

He appealed to anyone with information about the killings, or anyone who had a missing relative or friend, to contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249.

For SAPS, the immediate task is to identify the victims, reconstruct the circumstances of each death, determine whether the cases are connected and establish who is responsible.

For communities across Ekurhuleni, the urgency is more immediate: women want to know that they can walk, run and return home without becoming the next name on a missing-persons poster.