The number of women whose bodies have been found across Ekurhuleni has risen to eight, as police intensify investigations into the deaths that have triggered growing fear across the metro.
Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia announced the latest development on Tuesday evening, revealing that an eighth woman’s body has now been found.
Cachalia also announced a R400,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a suspect, as authorities step up efforts to establish who is behind the killings and whether the cases are connected.
The latest development comes after police earlier confirmed that seven women’s bodies had been recorded across different parts of Ekurhuleni over approximately two months.
Police have, however, repeatedly cautioned that the discovery of multiple bodies does not automatically mean all the deaths are connected.
Investigators are examining the individual cases, forensic evidence and similarities between the circumstances in which some of the women were found before determining whether there is a common perpetrator or perpetrators.
Four of earlier victims sexually assaulted
During a police briefing in Kempton Park on Monday, Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili revealed that four of the five women whose cases were being investigated at that stage had been sexually assaulted.
One of the women subsequently identified was 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for her routine run.
Her body was later discovered in Rhodesfield and formally identified by her family.
Further discoveries and information about other cases subsequently pushed the broader Ekurhuleni count higher.
On Tuesday, Acting Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana clarified details surrounding the seventh woman added to the count.
Police said her body had actually been discovered floating in a river on 7 September, rather than being a new discovery made on Tuesday.
The unidentified woman was wearing only underwear, but police said there were no visible injuries on her body.
Her cause of death remains to be determined and investigators have not established whether her case is connected to the other women’s deaths.
The subsequent confirmation of an eighth body has now increased the number of cases under scrutiny.
R400,000 reward announced
The announcement of a R400,000 reward marks a significant escalation in the police response as investigators seek information that could lead them to a suspect.
A multidisciplinary police operation involving detectives, forensic experts, Crime Intelligence, tracking teams, K9 units and investigative psychology specialists has already been mobilised.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also intervened, directing police leadership to prioritise the cases and ensure that no stone is left unturned in identifying those responsible.
Despite growing public concern, authorities have stopped short of declaring that a serial killer is operating in Ekurhuleni.
Police say forensic and investigative evidence will ultimately determine whether some or all of the deaths are linked.
The discovery of an eighth woman and the announcement of a substantial reward now add further urgency to an investigation that has expanded rapidly in recent days.
