18 September 2026 · Based on reporting available through 17 September.
The discovery of a ninth woman’s body in Ekurhuleni has deepened concern surrounding the deaths of women in Kempton Park and neighbouring areas. Reuters reported the latest discovery on Thursday, 17 September, as police continued investigating cases recorded over approximately two months. Authorities had not confirmed that all the deaths were linked. Reuters
Although widely discussed as the “Kempton Park murders”, the investigation extends beyond the suburb. Earlier discoveries included bodies found in Olifantsfontein. On 14 September, eNCA reported that police had assembled a multidisciplinary team following the discovery of a fifth woman’s body in the broader area. At that stage, investigators were examining similarities between cases without confirming a common perpetrator. eNCA
That distinction remains essential. Similar circumstances can give investigators reason to compare cases, but they do not establish that one person committed every killing. Reports of a confirmed serial killer would therefore go beyond the evidence publicly established in the reporting reviewed for this article.
Among the victims publicly identified was Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, who disappeared after leaving home for a run on 9 September. Her family subsequently confirmed her death. Her disappearance drew widespread attention, and running communities organised tributes in her memory. Behind the investigation are families confronting loss and uncertainty, not simply a rising number of cases. The Guardian
Associated Press reported that a suspect connected to the first victim discovered had been detained. That development should not be interpreted as an arrest resolving the wider investigation or proof of responsibility for the other deaths. Associated Press
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a thorough investigation. Reuters reported on 15 September that police were considering whether a single perpetrator, multiple suspects or copycat offenders might be involved. A motive had not been established in that report. Reuters
Police have also urged people not to circulate graphic photographs of the victims, according to Associated Press. Sharing such material can compound families’ distress. Public discussion should likewise avoid identifying supposed suspects from unverified social-media posts or presenting speculation as an investigative breakthrough. Associated Press
The unanswered questions are substantial: which cases are connected, who is responsible, and what evidence will support arrests and prosecutions? Until investigators establish those answers, careful reporting matters. The women who died deserve dignity, their families deserve reliable information, and the public deserves an account grounded in evidence rather than fear.
