Ekurhuleni Killings: What We Know About 9 Women Found Dead
Nine women have now been found dead across Ekurhuleni since July, after police discovered another woman’s body in Dawn Park on Thursday, 17 September. The latest discovery has widened an investigation that now covers several locations across the East Rand.
The cases include women found in Kempton Park, Pomona, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, KwaThema and Dawn Park.
Three victims have so far been publicly identified as Itumeleng Kekana, Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo and Dineo Evelyn Motapane.
Six others have not yet been publicly identified.
Police have formed a multidisciplinary team to investigate the deaths and determine whether there are links between the cases. While similarities have fuelled speculation, authorities have not confirmed that all nine women were killed by one person.
Here is what is known about the nine women.
1. 15 July: Woman Found Bound Near R21
The investigation began with the discovery of a 37-year-old woman in an open field near the R21 in Kempton Park on 15 July.
Police found her naked and with her hands restrained using cable ties.
A suspect was arrested two days later in connection with the murder and remains in custody.
The woman’s identity has not been publicly released.
Police have also not confirmed a connection between the suspect in this case and the other deaths.
2. 3 August: Itumeleng Kekana Found In Pomona
Itumeleng Kekana, 32, disappeared from Kempton Park on 17 July.
Her family spent more than two weeks searching for her before police discovered her body near Great North Road in Pomona on 3 August.
Her relatives later formally identified her.
The circumstances surrounding her death are being investigated as part of the wider Ekurhuleni probe.
Kekana’s disappearance and death have also been detailed by her family, who searched hospitals, police stations and mortuaries while trying to find her.
3. 24 August: Another Woman Found Near R21
On 24 August, police discovered another woman dead near the R21 in Kempton Park.
The 32-year-old woman was partially clothed when she was found.
Her identity has not been publicly released.
Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding her death and whether there is any connection to other cases in the area.
4. 7 September: Woman Found In Clayville River
On 7 September, police recovered the body of a woman believed to be in her late 20s from a river in Clayville.
The location was near the Mall of Thembisa.
The woman was reportedly wearing only underwear when her body was recovered.
Her identity has not been publicly confirmed.
The case was initially investigated separately before becoming part of the broader investigation into women found dead across Ekurhuleni.
5. 10 September: Decomposed Body Found In Kempton Park
Three days later, another unidentified woman was found near the R21 and Voortrekker Road in Kempton Park.
Her body was reportedly naked and in an advanced state of decomposition.
The condition of the remains meant investigators had to rely on forensic procedures to establish her identity.
No public identification had been made by 18 September.
6. 12 September: Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo
One of the cases that attracted significant public attention involved Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38.
Moselakgomo disappeared after going out for her usual run.
Her body was discovered behind a hotel near the R21 in Rhodesfield on 12 September.
Her family formally identified her at the Germiston mortuary on 14 September.
Her disappearance prompted a search involving relatives, residents and members of the running community.
Her death subsequently led to vigils and memorial activities.
Moselakgomo is among the three victims whose identities have been publicly confirmed.
7. 14 September: Woman Found In Olifantsfontein
On 14 September, a passer-by alerted police after discovering another woman’s body beside a road in Olifantsfontein.
Police found the woman partially naked and with bruising on her body.
Investigators were examining whether she had been killed elsewhere before her body was left at the location.
Her identity had not been publicly released.
The discovery was followed by another case the following day, adding to the rapidly expanding investigation.
8. 15 September: Dineo Evelyn Motapane
Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, was found beside a road in KwaThema, Springs, on Tuesday, 15 September.
Her family had last seen her alive on Sunday.
Her relatives had not yet reported her missing when police discovered her body.
The family later positively identified her at the Springs Mortuary on Wednesday afternoon.
Motapane became the third publicly identified victim in the investigation.
She leaves behind a two-year-old daughter.
Police said preliminary findings indicated that she had been strangled.
9. 17 September: Ninth Woman Found In Dawn Park
The ninth discovery came on Thursday morning, 17 September, when police found another woman’s body in Dawn Park, Boksburg.
The woman was believed to be about 30 years old, but her identity had not been established.
Police said she was partially naked. Reports from the scene also indicated that she had suffered a fatal injury to her throat.
Acting Gauteng police commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana said preliminary information suggested that the woman had been killed somewhere else before her body was dumped in Dawn Park.
Her discovery brought the number of women found dead in Ekurhuleni during the period under investigation to nine.
Deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said national police structures had been brought into the investigation because of its scale.
“We cannot give a case of this magnitude to the province alone. At least the national head office is here.”
Police have also appealed to communities to provide information that could help investigators.
Who Has Been Identified In The Ekurhuleni Killings?
Three of the nine women have so far been publicly identified:
- Itumeleng Kekana, 32
- Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38
- Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38
The remaining six women have not been publicly identified.
Police have turned to the Department of Home Affairs to assist with biometric records as investigators work to identify some of the unidentified victims.
The information could include fingerprint records and other biometric data that may help establish identities and generate additional investigative leads.
For families who have missing relatives, identifying the six women remains one of the key parts of the investigation.
R900 000 Now Offered In Rewards
There are currently two publicly announced rewards connected to the investigation.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has offered R400 000 for information that can assist investigators in making arrests.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has separately offered R500 000 for information leading to a successful prosecution.
Together, the announced rewards amount to R900 000.
The DA reward was announced after the party marched to Kempton Park Police Station on 16 September.
However, police have raised questions about how the additional reward would operate alongside the established SAPS reward process.
Lieutenant-General Mosikili said police already had procedures governing rewards for information.
“As far as the police are concerned, there is a process that is followed when a reward is pronounced.”
The DA has indicated that information should go through SAPS before any reward is considered.
Are The Nine Deaths Connected?
This remains one of the biggest questions surrounding the investigation.
The circumstances surrounding several of the deaths have prompted speculation that the cases could be connected.
Police are examining that possibility.
However, authorities have repeatedly stressed that investigators must establish the evidence before declaring that the nine deaths were committed by the same person or group.
The South African Police Service has assembled detectives, forensic specialists and intelligence personnel to examine the individual cases and possible links between them. (
As of 18 September 2026, six of the women remain publicly unidentified and the investigation is continuing.
The discovery of the ninth body has added another case for investigators to examine, while families of the identified victims continue to seek answers about what happened to their loved ones.