JOHANNESBURG — Over the past two months, South African police have found the bodies of eight women in the Kempton Park area, east of Johannesburg.
The discoveries have sent shockwaves across the nation, prompted a high‑level investigation, and underscored the pervasive problem of femicide and violent crime.
Here is what you need to know about the grim discoveries and the ongoing police investigation.
Gauteng provincial commissioner Fred Kekana said investigators are assessing whether the cases are connected, while cautioning against prematurely labeling the deaths as the work of a single perpetrator or a serial killer.
“Investigators are examining all possibilities, including multiple suspects or separate perpetrators,” he said. “Police are comparing evidence, timelines, locations, victim profiles, and circumstances before drawing any conclusions.”
He noted, however, that the similarities and close proximity of the discovery sites are troubling.
Some of the more recent bodies were found in Olifantsfontein and Kwa‑Thema, roughly 25 kilometres (15 miles) and 34 kilometres (21 miles) from Kempton Park, where the first five victims were located.
“While investigations continue and SAPS has not yet confirmed a link to a serial killer, the similarities are concerning enough for police to issue a public warning and ramp up the probe,” Kekana said.
By Wednesday, police confirmed eight victims, all women aged between 20 and 38, each discovered either naked or partially clothed and showing signs of bruising.
The first body was found on 17 July, naked and bound with cable ties. Police arrested a suspect believed to be the victim’s boyfriend, who remains in custody.
One of the victims has been identified as 38‑year‑old runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who was reported missing last week.
She was reported missing after her eight‑year‑old daughter told family members she had not returned from her usual afternoon jog; her body was recovered several days later.
The body recovered in Olifantsfontein on Tuesday was found naked and in an advanced state of decomposition.
The youngest victim identified so far is a 20‑year‑old woman.
The recent deaths have highlighted South Africa’s high rates of femicide and violent crime, prompting public outcry over women’s safety.
From April to July this year, South Africa recorded 5,427 murders — an average of roughly 45 per day — according to the latest crime statistics.
Femicide rates in South Africa rank among the highest globally, according to the United Nations entity for gender equality.
A 2022 study by a South African think tank found that over 35 % of adult women in the country have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.
Police have offered a cash reward for any information related to the murders.
