Authorities in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, have recovered 12 women’s bodies over roughly two months, prompting public alarm and a coordinated police response. Arrests have been made in three cases, but most deaths remain unsolved and investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a serial offender. A specialised police task team has been formed and a 400,000 rand reward is offered for information leading to arrests. President Cyril Ramaphosa described the killings as a "stain on our national conscience."
Twelve Women Found Dead Near Johannesburg Over Two Months — Police Investigate, Won't Rule Out Serial Killer
The discovery of 12 bodies in an area east of Johannesburg has sparked alarm in South Africa [AFP via Getty Images]
Police in South Africa have confirmed that 12 women’s bodies were recovered in and around the Ekurhuleni municipality, east of Johannesburg, over roughly two months. Authorities say arrests have been made in three separate investigations, but most cases remain unsolved and investigators have not ruled out the possibility of a serial offender. The discoveries have heightened public alarm and prompted the formation of a police task team.
Overview
Most of the victims were found between July and September 2026 in the Ekurhuleni area, including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Springs and Boksburg. The women were often discovered partially or fully unclothed and with injuries; several had been badly bruised and one may have been stoned to death. Police say the cases vary in apparent motive and have so far not been linked conclusively, though the pattern of discoveries has raised concerns.
[Kekana family]
Cases
Case 1 — Busisiwe Mahlangu (15 July)
Busisiwe Mahlangu, 37, was found in Kempton Park on 15 July. She was discovered naked with her hands bound by cable ties. A suspect believed to be her partner was arrested two days later and remains in custody; investigators say he has not been linked to the later discoveries.
Case 2 — Itumeleng Kekana (3 August)
Itumeleng Kekana, 32, a young mother who went missing in July, was found on 3 August on a bridge in Kempton Park. Her body was partially clothed and badly bruised. No arrests have been announced in her case.
[South African police]
Case 3 — Nomfesane Mjobo (26 August)
Nomfesane Mjobo was found dead in Kempton Park on 26 August. Few details have been released publicly; police said she, like several other victims, was found partially or fully unclothed and bore bruising. No arrests have been made.
Case 4 — Unidentified Woman in Olifantsfontein (7 September)
An unidentified woman believed to be in her 20s was found floating in a river in Olifantsfontein on 7 September. She was wearing only underwear. Authorities have withheld further details while family members are located; no arrests have been reported.
[Thuthuka Zondi/BBC]
Case 5 — Gracious Nkomo (10 September)
Gracious Nkomo, 28, was discovered partially clothed near a road close to South Africa’s busiest airport on 10 September. Police say there have been no arrests in her death.
Case 6 — Elizabeth Moselakgomo (12 September)
Elizabeth Moselakgomo, 38, who had gone missing while out for a daily run near her home in Kempton Park, was found badly bruised and partially clothed on 12 September. Her disappearance and the subsequent search drew widespread public attention. No arrests have been announced.
[Dineo Motapane]
Case 7 — Unnamed Victim in Olifantsfontein (14 September)
Two days after Moselakgomo’s body was found, police recovered another woman’s body in Olifantsfontein on 14 September. Her name has not been released pending family notification. No arrests have been made.
Case 8 — Dineo Motapane (15 September)
Dineo Motapane, 38, reported missing two days earlier, was found on 15 September beside a road in Springs. Her body had been battered and partly burned. Motapane left behind a young child. No arrests have been reported in her death.
[BBC]
Case 9 — Jabulile Ntimba (17 September)
Jabulile Ntimba, in her 30s, was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet on the side of a road in Boksburg on 17 September. Police said her death appeared linked to a possible love triangle. Three people were initially arrested; a man was later released for lack of evidence. Two women remain charged with premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice.
Case 10 — Ntombifuthi Nxumalo (26 September)
Ntombifuthi Nxumalo’s naked body was found at a cemetery in the Tembisa neighbourhood on 26 September. She suffered serious head injuries and stones were found nearby, leading investigators to say she may have been stoned to death. A 36-year-old man was arrested after travelling to another province and faces a murder charge.
Case 11 — Unidentified Woman in Springs (Date Reported in September)
A yet-to-be-identified woman was found in an open field in Springs by a private security company. Police have released few details and there have been no reported arrests.
Case 12 — Boitumelo Gift Mashita (Tembisa)
Boitumelo Gift Mashita, 23, was shot and killed on her way to work in Tembisa; her belongings were taken. Police said her estranged husband was suspected, and he was later found dead in his vehicle in Midrand. Authorities have said this shooting does not appear to be linked to the cluster of bodies found elsewhere in Ekurhuleni.
Other Related Discovery
On 20 September police reported the discovery of a young woman’s body wrapped in a duvet in a dam in Soweto, about 63 km (39 miles) from Ekurhuleni. It is unclear whether this death is connected to the Ekurhuleni cases.
Investigations, Reaction and Context
Police have formed a specialised task team to coordinate investigations into the cluster of deaths and have offered a reward of 400,000 rand (about $24,000) for information that could lead to arrests. President Cyril Ramaphosa called the killings a "stain on our national conscience." South Africa is grappling with high homicide figures: police recorded 5,427 murders between April and June 2026, and the South African Human Rights Commission reported that 569 women were killed in the same period.
If you have information relevant to any of these cases, contact local police. Authorities stress that many investigations are ongoing and that information from the public could be crucial.
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