Ekurhuleni Women Killings: Police Identify 3 People of Interest in Investigation
- Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo confirmed that three people with links to the Ekurhuleni killings have been identified by investigators
- Specialised SAPS teams have narrowed their focus as a ninth woman's body was discovered in the metro on 17 September
- Authorities cautioned against concluding a serial killer is responsible, saying the cases are not yet sufficiently connected
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GAUTENG — Police have identified three people of interest in connection with the killings of women in Ekurhuleni as investigators work to establish what happened to the victims and whether the cases are linked.
Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo revealed the development during an interview with Newzroom Afrika on Thursday, 18 September 2026.
Investigators close in on suspects
Boshielo said several multidisciplinary SAPS teams were working on the cases and had now identified three people who have “some or other link” to the investigations.
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“I can confirm to you that we are not speculating anymore,” Boshielo said.
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The deputy minister, however, cautioned against concluding that a serial killer was behind the deaths. She said investigators had not established enough links between most of the cases to confirm that they could be attributed to one person.
Boshielo added that police were working around the clock to identify those responsible and bring the investigations to a conclusion.
How the Ekurhuleni killings unfolded
The investigations have intensified following the discovery of women's bodies in several parts of Ekurhuleni since July.
The first victim was found on 15 July near Kempton Park. The 37-year-old woman was discovered naked in a field with her hands bound with cable ties. Police arrested a suspect two days later in connection with the case.
A second woman, 32-year-old Itumeleng Kekana, went missing in July. Her body was later discovered beside Great North Road in Pomona on 3 August after her family had spent weeks searching for her.
On 24 August, another 32-year-old woman was found partially clothed near the R21. A woman in her late 20s was later discovered in a river in Clayville on 7 September, wearing only underwear.
Three days later, on 10 September, the badly decomposed body of another woman was found near the R21 in Kempton Park. Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, was also found dead after leaving home for her usual run.
A woman’s body was found in Olifantsfontein on Monday, 14 September, while another was discovered beside a road in KwaThema on Tuesday. The KwaThema victim was later identified as 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane. Then, on Thursday morning, 17 September, another woman was found in Villa Liza near Dawn Park in Boksburg.
Police offer R400,000 reward
Briefly News reported that a multidisciplinary team has been established to investigate the cases, while police have also announced a R400,000 reward for information that could lead to arrests.The Acting National Police Commissioner made the announcement during a formal press briefing in Johannesburg on 15 September 2026. General Dimpane said police welcome any information from the public beyond what investigators currently have, as the death toll has risen
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Source: Briefly News
