Ekurhuleni Mayor Responds After 6 Women Found Dead Across the Metro
- Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza extended his condolences to the families of six women found dead across the metro
- Among the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who left her Rhodesfield home for a run on 9 September and never returned
- A multidisciplinary task team was established to investigate the deaths and determine whether the cases are connected
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GAUTENG - Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza has spoken out following the deaths of six women found across the metro. Xhakaza said the city will pool its resources and strengthen safety measures in affected communities.
Xhakaza addresses the crisis in the metro
Xhakaza expressed condolences to the grieving families and acknowledged that the city could not turn a blind eye to the conditions contributing to unsafe public spaces.
"We must deal with the symptom," he said.
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He emphasised the need for a comprehensive response, promising expanded surveillance camera coverage and better-maintained public areas.
The mayor also responded to concerns about overgrown grass and poor lighting in affected areas. He confirmed that grass had been cut in those locations but conceded the municipality needed to act more swiftly on service delivery issues. He committed to ensuring better lighting, regular maintenance and expanded security infrastructure as part of the city's response going forward.
Elizabeth Moselakgomo's death shakes Kempton Park
The discovery of the women was sparked by the case of the then- missing runner 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo. Elizabeth had left her home in Rhodesfield on 9 September for an afternoon run and did not return. Her eight-year-old daughter raised the alarm, prompting family members to report her missing and begin searching for her. Her body was later found, and relatives formally identified her at the Germiston mortuary on Monday, 14 September.
Her death devastated the local running community. Athletics South Africa noted that the circumstances underscored how vulnerable women remain, even when doing something as ordinary as going for a run.
Six women dead across Ekurhuleni in two months
Over roughly two months, five other women were found dead in and around Kempton Park. The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was discovered near the R21 in Rhodesfield on 15 July. She was found naked and bound with cable ties, and her boyfriend was arrested in connection with her murder.
A 32-year-old woman was found partially clothed near the same road on 24 August. On 10 September, an unidentified woman's remains were found in an advanced state of decomposition. A fifth woman was discovered dead in Olifantsfontein on 14 September, and a sixth was found in Kwa-Thema, Springs, on 15 September 2026.
Police have not confirmed whether the cases are linked, despite similarities that have unsettled residents.
Sixth body found in Kwa-Thema
Briefly News also reported that the South African Police Service has confirmed that a sixth woman's body, discovered in Kwa-Thema, Ekurhuleni, on 15 September 2026, is not definitively linked to the five bodies found in nearby Kempton Park — but investigators have not excluded that possibility either. Senior SAPS officials from across the province are scheduled to convene in Parktown, Johannesburg, on Tuesday to deliberate on the growing number of deaths.
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Source: Briefly News
