South Africa Investigates Women’s Deaths Near Johannesburg

South African police have issued a public warning to women after the discovery of a seventh woman’s body in an area east of Johannesburg, where several other victims have been found over the past two months. The deaths have generated widespread fear that a serial killer may be operating in the region, although authorities have not confirmed that the cases were committed by the same person. The latest victim was found on Tuesday in Kwa-Thema, approximately 34 kilometers from Kempton Park. Police said she was fully naked and in an advanced stage of decomposition. Another body was discovered the previous day in Olifantsontein. On Saturday, the body of 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo was found after she disappeared while jogging in Kempton Park the previous week. Her death followed a community and police search. The South African Police Service has urged women to exercise caution when jogging or taking part in other activities in the affected area. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the similarities between the cases were serious enough to justify a warning and intensified investigations, while emphasizing that a serial-killer connection had not been established. President Cyril Ramaphosa said he had instructed police authorities to prioritize the murder investigations and pursue all available leads. He also appealed to citizens to provide information that could help stop the attacks. The alert has renewed concern about South Africa’s severe levels of violence against women and children. The country recorded 5,427 murders between April and July, an average of 45 per day, while the United Nations’ gender-equality agency ranks South Africa’s femicide rate among the world’s highest. A 2022 study found that more than 35% of adult South African women had experienced physical or sexual violence. The Commission for Gender Equality called for an urgent safety audit of the affected areas, covering lighting, surveillance, transport routes, neglected spaces, police visibility and emergency assistance. Its spokesperson said women should not have to be killed before authorities give an area heightened attention.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged that authorities will leave “no stone unturned” to identify those responsible for the deaths of seven women whose bodies have been found in and around Kempton Park, north-east of Johannesburg, over approximately two months. Most of the victims were discovered partially or fully naked, prompting widespread fear and outrage, particularly among women in the area. Police have not classified the deaths as the work of a serial killer, although they are investigating whether a group may be involved. A police spokesperson also raised the possibility of copycat crimes, while stressing that investigators have so far found no confirmed links between the cases. One person has been arrested in connection with the first body discovered and remains in custody. Only two of the seven women have been identified. One of the identified victims is 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, whose body was found on Saturday, three days after she disappeared during her regular run. Her young daughter alerted relatives when she failed to return home. Moselakgomo was identified by her family on Monday. The first body was found in mid-July, another in late August, and the remaining bodies were discovered during September. Police expanded the investigation to include a woman found on 7 September in a nearby town after reviewing cases reported at local police stations. Authorities have urged women near Kempton Park, which is close to South Africa’s main international airport, to avoid walking or running alone, especially in isolated locations. The killings have intensified concern in a country with one of the world’s highest rates of gender-based violence. UN Women estimates that women in South Africa are killed at five times the global average. The Commission for Gender Equality said the deaths showed how ordinary activities such as running, commuting, or returning home can become life-threatening for women, and urged residents to cooperate with police investigations.

A woman’s body was found Tuesday in Kwa-Thema, east of Johannesburg, the latest in a series of deaths that has raised fears that a serial killer may be targeting women. South African police say the cases appear to be linked, but they have not confirmed that they were committed by the same person or group. The South African Police Service (SAPS) issued a public warning urging women to exercise caution, particularly when jogging in the affected areas, while intensifying its investigation. The latest discovery came after bodies were found in several nearby locations. Another body was found Monday in Olifantsontein, while the body of 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo was discovered Saturday after she disappeared while jogging in Kempton Park. A social media campaign organized by fellow runners to locate Moselakgomo helped draw public attention to the case and contributed to the discovery of additional bodies. Police said the Kwa-Thema victim was found fully naked and in an advanced state of decomposition. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia called the discoveries deeply disturbing and said a multidisciplinary investigation would examine possible links, identify those responsible and bring them to justice. President Cyril Ramaphosa also directed law enforcement authorities to prioritize the murder investigations and urged citizens to provide information. The case has renewed concern about South Africa’s broader gender-based violence crisis. The country recorded 5,427 murders between April and July, an average of 45 per day. The United Nations says South Africa has one of the world’s highest femicide rates. Research has found that three women were killed every day by intimate partners during 2020-2021, while more than 35% of adult women surveyed in 2022 reported experiencing physical or sexual violence. Amnesty International South Africa said the deaths were another reminder that women are unsafe. The Commission for Gender Equality called for immediate safety audits covering lighting, surveillance, transport routes, police visibility and emergency assistance.

South African police are investigating the deaths of eight women whose bodies were found at multiple locations east of Johannesburg over approximately two months. The latest discovery, in Kwa-Thema township on Tuesday, expanded an investigation that already included seven other cases, including a body found in a river near Tembisa that was recently added to the inquiry. The killings have raised fears that a serial killer or group of killers may be operating in the area, although police have not confirmed that the cases are connected. Several victims were found naked or partially clothed, and some reportedly showed signs of sexual violence. The first identified victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15; a suspect was arrested two days later. Other victims included a 32-year-old woman found partially clothed on August 24 and a 38-year-old woman who disappeared after leaving her eight-year-old daughter at home to go jogging. Her body was found behind a hotel on September 12. The South African Police Service has urged women to exercise caution, particularly while jogging or engaging in similar activities in the affected area. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the similarities among the cases were serious enough to justify a public warning and intensified investigations, but investigators are still determining whether one perpetrator or multiple men are responsible. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said the deaths must not be in vain, while President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered police to prioritize the investigation and pledged that no stone would be left unturned. The killings have intensified concerns about violence against women in South Africa, where UN Women reports among the world’s highest rates of violence against women and children. The United Nations estimates that roughly one in three South African women experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. The investigation is unfolding amid broader public concern about violent crime ahead of municipal elections in November.

A woman’s body was found on Tuesday in an area east of Johannesburg, South Africa, marking the seventh woman’s body discovered there in two months. The repeated discoveries have raised fears that a potential serial killer may be operating in the area and prompted South African police to issue a public warning. Authorities believe the cases appear to be linked, but they have not confirmed that the deaths were committed by the same person. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has urged women to exercise caution, particularly when engaging in activities such as jogging in the affected area. The article provides few additional details about the victims, the circumstances of the deaths, or the status of any investigation or suspects. It emphasizes the growing concern among the public and authorities following the latest discovery. The warning reflects an immediate public-safety response while police continue assessing whether the incidents form part of a single pattern. The report, published by the Associated Press on September 15, 2026, presents the situation as an unfolding investigation rather than a confirmed serial-killing case. While officials see possible connections among the cases, they have stopped short of attributing them to one killer. The discovery nevertheless has placed South African authorities and residents on alert, especially women who use the area for outdoor activities.

South African police are investigating the deaths of seven women whose bodies were discovered in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, over a two-month period. Authorities said some of the victims were found naked or partially clothed and showed signs of sexual violence. One body was already decomposing when it was found. Most of the victims were in their 20s or 30s, and one was identified as a woman who disappeared after leaving home for an afternoon run. President Cyril Ramaphosa promised that “no stone will be left unturned” in the investigation, as the killings generated widespread alarm and condemnation from civil society and sporting organisations. Police have not established a motive and are examining whether the deaths were linked to one perpetrator, multiple suspects or copycat criminals. The killings have renewed attention on violence against women, one of South Africa’s most deeply entrenched social problems. The article places the investigation within a broader national context of persistent violent crime. South Africa records about 60 murders a day, according to official crime statistics, contributing to widespread public anger and anxiety. The issue is particularly sensitive as the country prepares to hold municipal elections in November. Years of government promises to address violence against women have failed to eliminate the problem, leaving communities concerned about public safety and the effectiveness of the authorities’ response. The investigation remains ongoing, with police yet to determine who was responsible or why the women were killed.