Ekurhuleni Murders: How 9 Women’s Deaths Left South Africans Mourning and SAPS Searching for Answers
- Nine women's bodies were found dumped around Ekurhuleni in the space of nine weeks
- The discoveries sparked outrage in the country and left police with a mammoth task of trying to find those responsible
- Briefly News takes a closer look at who the victims were, when their bodies were discovered, and how police have responded to the murders
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
GAUTENG - It's been a nightmare nine weeks for residents of Ekurhuleni in particular, and South Africans at large.
The bodies of nine women were found dumped in different areas around Ekurhuleni, on Gauteng's East Rand, since 15 July 2026, giving rise to fears that a serial killer may be on the loose.
While the victims shared no links, the manner in which their bodies were dumped indicated that there could be a pattern. All the women were either partially dressed or fully naked when their bodies were found, and some had been sexually assaulted.
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So, what happened to these women and why have their deaths become such a talking point? Briefly News takes a look.
It all began on July 15
The first woman's body to be found was that of 37-year-old Busisiwe Mahlangu. Her body was found on 15 July 2026 in an open area near the R21 in Kempton Park. She was bound with cable ties.
Unlike many of the other cases, a man was arrested shortly after the murder. The man, who was reportedly Mahlangu's ex-partner, remains in custody at Modderbee Correctional Facility.
Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili recently said that early information received by authorities indicated that the man was not South African but stressed that this had not yet been officially confirmed.
Kekana's family and partner speak out
The second victim was 32-year-old Itumeleng Kekana, whose body was found on 3 August 2026, in bushes near Great North Road, Pomona, Kempton Park.
Kekana’s body was found approximately two weeks after she was last seen. She suffered multiple stab wounds. The 32-year-old was identified by family members following the discovery of her body, but her death made further headlines recently when police tied her case to the nine other murders around Ekurhuleni.
Since then, her family has spoken publicly about the harrowing 17-day search that ended when her body was discovered near a river along the R21. Her partner, Joseph Gumede, also shared an emotional account of his own search for her, and how his life has been since her passing.
The Kempton Park killings continue
The third victim was Nomfesane Mjobo, who was also found dead in the Kempton Park area on 26 August 2026. Unlike many of the other cases, details surrounding her death have not been fully disclosed publicly.
On 10 September 2026, another body was found along the R21 in Kempton Park. She was partially clothed. She was identified as Gracious Nkomo, a Zimbabwean woman who was living in Pretoria. The 28-year-old's family positively identified her body at the Germiston Mortuary on 17 September 2026.
Elizabeth Moselakgomo's death sparks public attention
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Gracious Nkomo identified as third woman found dead along R21 in Kempton Park in Ekurhuleni
On 12 September 2026, a woman's body was located near a hotel in Rhodesfield. Her remains showed clear physical trauma.
The discovery garnered public attention and led police to caution the public against claiming that a serial killer was on the loose. Two days after the discovery, the woman was identified as 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, who had gone missing while out for her daily run.
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Tributes poured in for Tsontso, as her death shone a light on the killings and raised concerns and calls for women in the area to not go out alone. Her funeral also garnered national attention, as her eight-year-old daughter delivered an emotional speech about her mother.
The deaths didn't end there
On 14 September, the day Moselakgomo was identified by her family, police discovered another body near Kempton Park, several kilometres from where the other bodies were previously found.
She was later identified as Vutomi Mathebula, a 28-year-old who went missing from Giyani, Limpopo, in March 2026. Her family was subjected to ransom demands before her decomposed remains were tragically found in Olifantsfontein.
The following day, a woman's body was found dumped in KwaThema, Ekurhuleni. She was later identified as Dineo Evelyn Motapane, a 38-year-old. With public anger growing and calls for something to be done, police confirmed that an eighth woman's body was added to the investigation.
Police confirmed that the unidentified woman's body was found floating in a river in Clayville, near the Mall of Tembisa. The woman was discovered on 7 September 2026 wearing only her underwear. Police are still searching for her family.
On 15 September 2026, a ninth woman's body was discovered in Dawn Park, Boksburg, raising fresh alarm over the string of deaths.
Three people were then arrested in connection with the murder of the woman, who was identified as Jabulile Ntimba. According to police, the circumstances surrounding her death appear to have stemmed from a love triangle.
The male suspect was released after being questioned by police, but Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court and were charged with premeditated murder under gender-based violence legislation, as well as defeating or obstructing the course of justice. The case was postponed to 1 October 2026, with both accused remanded in custody.
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Ekurhuleni killings spark national and international outrage
While arrests have been made in two of the nine cases, there has been public backlash over the response to the murders.
The South African Police Service has since locked down Kempton Park, a move many felt came too late, while Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi vowed that police would track down those responsible, saying they had “declared war” on the state.
Lieutenant-Generals Dumisani Khumalo and Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi were also brought in to assist with the Ekurhuleni serial murders investigations.
Following the discovery of the ninth body, Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane confirmed that a R400,000 reward has been offered for information regarding the Ekurhuleni murders.
The Democratic Alliance announced that it was offering an additional R500,000 cash reward to assist investigations. AfriForum also offered free legal aid to the families of the victims seeking justice.
The murders didn't attract just local attention, though, as the United Nations raised serious concern over the discovery of nine women's bodies across Ekurhuleni, while the United States of America's State Department criticised the South African government over its handling of the crisis.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has since promised to spare no effort in tracking down those responsible for the series of killings of women in Ekurhuleni.
Minister tells South African men to stop murdering women
Briefly News reported that Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga addressed South African men directly at a government memorial in Ekurhuleni.
The memorial was held to mourn nine women killed in a wave of gender-based violence within the space of two months.
Chikunga's remarks that South African men are responsible prompted fierce online pushback, with many rejecting her framing of the crisis.
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Source: Briefly News
