Nine bodies have been discovered across Ekurhuleni municipality between 17 July and 17 September, prompting a police probe into possible links. Four victims have been identified, at least one suspect is in custody, and authorities are verifying the suspect's nationality. President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged men to act against gender-based violence while civil groups insist the state must protect women. Police offer a 400,000 rand reward for information; investigations are ongoing.
Nine Women Found Dead Across Ekurhuleni: Police Probe Possible Links as Public Outcry Grows
A forensic officer at the scene where a woman's body was found in KwaThema, South Africa, September 15 [AP Photo]
Over the past two months authorities in Ekurhuleni municipality, part of the greater Johannesburg area, have discovered the bodies of nine women. The disturbing pattern has sparked a police investigation into whether the deaths are connected and intensified national concern about gender-based violence in South Africa.
What Happened
Police made the most recent discovery on 17 September when the body of an unidentified woman, believed to be about 30 and partially clothed with stab wounds, was found dumped in Dawn Park on Johannesburg's outskirts. Investigators say the victim may have been killed elsewhere and then moved to the park.
The death is the ninth since 17 July. All victims were found within Ekurhuleni: the first five in the Kempton Park area and others at locations roughly 25–35 km away. Dawn Park lies about 30 km south of Kempton Park.
Victims Identified
Local media reports that four of the nine women have been publicly identified: 38-year-old mother of two Dineo Motapane (battered and burned), 28-year-old Gracious Nkomo (dumped on the R21 highway on 10 September), 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo (reported missing after failing to return from a run), and 32-year-old shopkeeper Itumeleng Kekana (found bruised and partially clothed; discovered 17 days after she was last seen).
Five victims remain unidentified.
Investigation Status
Police say they have not yet determined whether a single offender or multiple perpetrators are responsible. Investigators are comparing timelines, locations, victim profiles and forensic evidence after noting similarities in the ages of victims (mostly women in their 20s and 30s), the condition of some of the bodies (partially clothed or naked) and similar bruising on several victims.
At least one suspect has been detained and appeared in court; authorities are verifying reports that the person of interest may not be a South African national. Acting national police and Gauteng provincial officials have said investigators are exploring all possibilities and warned the public against drawing premature conclusions.
Members of a women's church group pay their respects where the body of a woman was discovered in Kempton Park, September 17 [Themba Hadebe/AP Photo]
“Investigators are considering all possibilities, including the possibility of multiple suspects or separate perpetrators,” said Fred Kekana, police commissioner for Gauteng.
Official Responses and Public Reaction
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged men to take a greater role in preventing violence against women and girls and ordered police to leave "no stone unturned." Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi described the crimes as an attack on the state and said he trusts law enforcement to solve the cases.
The killings have provoked fear and anger across communities. Survivors, civil-society groups and gender-equality bodies say responsibility for protection should not be placed solely on women. The National Shelter Movement of South Africa warned against safety messaging that implies women can prevent attacks simply by changing their behavior.
Context and Statistics
UN Women says South Africa's female homicide rate is roughly five times the global average. Between 2020 and 2021 an average of 5.5 per 100,000 women were killed by intimate partners, according to the South African Medical Research Council. In the first three months of this year police recorded 9,782 reported rapes and 12,590 sexual offences — figures campaigners say understate the true scale because many assaults go unreported.
The UN in South Africa described the recent deaths as reflective of "persistent and deadly violence" facing women and girls in the country.
What Authorities Are Asking From The Public
Police have appealed for anyone with information to come forward and have offered a reward of 400,000 rand (about $25,000) for tips that lead to an arrest. Authorities have also advised women in affected neighborhoods to be cautious, recommending they avoid walking or running alone near known dump sites such as parts of Kempton Park.
Investigations are ongoing; police say comparisons of forensic evidence, timelines and witness accounts will determine whether the cases are linked and how many suspects may be involved.
Note: Reporting on the investigation is evolving. Official statements from police and provincial authorities remain the primary sources of new developments.
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