South African police investigate eight women’s deaths in Ekurhuleni

South African police have intensified an investigation into the deaths of eight women whose bodies were found in different parts of Ekurhuleni between July and September, as public concern has grown across the metropolitan area east of Johannesburg.

The discoveries were reported in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema. Police are examining the cases together because some scenes share features, including the discovery of several victims partially clothed or naked. But investigators have not established that the deaths are connected or that a single person is responsible.

The latest body was found in Olifantsfontein and was believed to be that of a woman around 35 years old. Her identity had not been confirmed when senior police officials addressed the investigation. Forensic specialists are working to identify the victims and determine how each woman died, steps that authorities say could help reveal whether the cases are linked.

The police ministry has offered a reward of 400,000 South African rand for information that leads to arrests. Authorities have appealed to residents to report missing relatives and to provide investigators with any relevant information rather than relying on unverified claims circulating on social media.

A multidisciplinary investigative team has been assembled to coordinate the work. Police have also planned a larger deployment in and around Kempton Park and expanded patrols under Operation Shanela, a nationwide crime-fighting operation. The measures are intended to increase visibility in areas where residents have expressed fear and to help investigators identify possible witnesses, suspects and locations connected to the deaths.

One of the identified victims was Elizabeth Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old runner. She disappeared while out for an afternoon run, and her body was later found near Rhodesfield. Her case has drawn particular attention because it involved a woman who had left home for a routine activity in the community.

Other bodies were found near the R21 and in areas including Clayville and KwaThema, according to the investigation’s timeline. The locations are spread across Ekurhuleni, a large and densely populated industrial region, making the inquiry logistically complex. Police are still reviewing the circumstances of each death and have not released a conclusion about a common motive.

The emergence of the eighth case prompted anger and demands for a stronger official response. Senior police officials have urged the public to allow forensic and investigative work to proceed while supplying information that could assist the inquiry. They have also cautioned against treating rumors as established facts, warning that inaccurate reports could hinder the investigation and deepen distress among families searching for missing women.

Identifying the victims remains an immediate priority. Authorities say reports from families about missing relatives may help match unidentified bodies to missing-person cases and provide information about the women’s movements before they disappeared. Such details could also help investigators establish timelines and determine whether the cases have a connection.

The investigation comes amid persistent concern in South Africa about violence against women and the difficulty families can face in obtaining timely answers when relatives disappear. In Ekurhuleni, officials now face the task of determining whether the eight deaths represent a series of related crimes or separate incidents that happened within the same period. Until forensic findings and further evidence are available, police have said that both possibilities remain open.