Horror in Ekurhuleni: Police Reveal Gruesome Details in Tenth Woman's Murder

A disturbing pattern of women's deaths in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, has prompted an intensive police investigation, with the discovery of a tenth woman's body on Saturday, 26 September, at Mooifontein Cemetery in Tembisa. The partly clothed body was found as investigators continue to probe a series of similar incidents across the region, raising heightened public concern.

The latest victim, an unidentified woman, was discovered at the Mooifontein Cemetery in the Vusimuzi section of Tembisa. Initial evidence at the crime scene, as stated by Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, suggested the woman may have been stoned. However, police are awaiting a post-mortem examination to officially determine her cause of death. Crime-scene management and forensic pathology teams meticulously processed the scene, collecting crucial evidence to trace her final movements and establish the circumstances surrounding her demise. A friend of the victim reportedly informed SABC that she had been with the woman at a tavern the night before, recognizing her clothing from an image of the body.

This grim discovery brings the total number of women found dead across Ekurhuleni since July to ten, while eleven bodies have been found across Gauteng in recent weeks. In response to the escalating crisis, police established a multidisciplinary team to investigate these deaths. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has joined the investigation, bolstering efforts to determine if any of the cases are linked. Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane previously ordered specialised policing units and detectives to thoroughly examine each case, analyse evidence, and identify potential connections.

Police are employing a two-pronged approach, focusing simultaneously on comprehensive criminal investigations and increased operational deployments in affected areas. Specialist resources, including Crime Intelligence officers, forensic specialists, and members of the SAPS Investigative Psychology Section, have been deployed. Senior police officials are actively overseeing the investigation, tracking progress across the various dockets. While some cases exhibit similarities, such as victims being found naked or partly clothed with signs of bruising, SAPS has cautioned against prematurely assuming a single perpetrator is responsible, stressing that definitive evidence linking the cases has yet to be established.

The chronology of the ten women found dead in Ekurhuleni, as per police records, includes:

• 1. Busisiwe Mahlangu (37): Discovered on 15 July in an open area near the R21 in Kempton Park. A suspect was arrested shortly after but has not been linked to other deaths.
• 2. Itumeleng Kekana (32): Found on 3 August in bushes near Great North Road, Pomona, Kempton Park. She had been missing since 17 July and suffered multiple stab wounds.
• 3. Nomfesane Mjobo: Her body was found on 26 August in the Kempton Park area. Limited information has been released, but her death is part of the official investigation.
• 4. Unidentified woman: Discovered floating in the Clayville River in Olifantsfontein on 7 September. Her identity remains unknown despite forensic efforts.
• 5. Gracious Nkomo (28): Found partially clothed near the R21 in Kempton Park on 10 September and formally identified by her family on 17 September.
• 6. Elizabeth ‘Tsontso’ Moselakgomo (38): Her body was found on 12 September in the Kempton Park area after she failed to return from her usual run. Her death garnered national attention and tributes.
• 7. Vutomi Mathebula (28): Found on 14 September in Olifantsfontein. She had been missing since 22 March, and her family had paid ransom to callers. She was identified by her hairstyle and clothing and was buried on 24 September.
• 8. Dineo Evelyn Motapane (38): Discovered by a passer-by on 15 September beside Moshoeshoe Street in Kwa-Thema. Her family last saw her on 13 September and suspects she was killed elsewhere.
• 9. Jabulile Ntimba: Found on 17 September in an open area in Villa Liza, Dawn Park. This case has seen significant breakthroughs, with two women, Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini, charged with premeditated murder and defeating justice. They have not been linked to other deaths.
• 10. Unidentified Tembisa woman: The latest discovery on 26 September at Mooifontein Cemetery.

It is important to note that a separate case involving an unidentified woman found wrapped in a duvet in a dam in Moroka, Soweto, on 20 September, has not been confirmed by police to be linked to the Ekurhuleni killings, despite emerging during the same period of investigation.

Police have made progress in some cases, with arrests in the deaths of Busisiwe Mahlangu and Jabulile Ntimba. Senior police officials remain optimistic about further breakthroughs. A significant reward of R400,000 has been offered for any information that could lead to the identification and arrest of those responsible for these killings, underscoring the gravity and intensity of the ongoing investigation into the tragic loss of life in Ekurhuleni.