Police are reportedly closing in on two suspects as investigations intensify into the recent murders of women across Ekurhuleni.
The identities of the two suspects have not been disclosed, and police have not indicated which specific cases they may be linked to. No arrests involving the pair had been announced at the time of publication.
Nine women’s bodies have been discovered in different parts of Ekurhuleni over the past two months, with several of the victims found naked or partially clothed near roads, open fields and construction sites.
Most of the victims were reportedly women in their 20s and 30s. Several are believed to have been sexually assaulted, while one body was too badly decomposed for investigators to immediately reach the same conclusion.
One of the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for a run. Her body was later discovered behind a hotel in Rhodesfield and positively identified by her family.
Police have not officially concluded that all the killings are connected or that a serial killer is responsible. Investigators are considering several possibilities, including the involvement of different perpetrators.
A suspect linked to the first body discovered in July is already in custody. However, women’s bodies continued to be found after his arrest, suggesting that he could not have been responsible for all the deaths.
A multidisciplinary police team involving detectives and specialised units has been assigned to the investigations. Authorities are analysing forensic evidence, attempting to identify the remaining victims and examining any possible links between the cases.
A reward of R400,000 has also been offered for information that could help police solve the killings and arrest those responsible.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised that the cases will receive urgent attention.
| “No stone will be left unturned.”
The killings have sparked widespread fear and anger, with residents, activists and community organisations demanding stronger protection for women and faster progress in the investigations.
Police have appealed to anyone with information about the suspects or the circumstances surrounding the deaths to contact the authorities. Members of the public have also been warned against circulating unverified photographs or naming people as suspects without official confirmation.