Horror in Kempton Park: Third Victim Identified, Women Fear for Safety Amid Brutal Killings

The tragic deaths of women in Kempton Park and other parts of Ekurhuleni have intensified fears among workers, particularly those on late shifts, prompting unions to demand urgent action from employers regarding safe transportation. The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) and its affiliate, the National Union of Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Commercial, Health and Allied Workers (NUHRCCHAW), have issued a strong call for the protection of employees who finish work after dark, emphasizing that women should not be forced to navigate unsafe areas to get home.

NUHRCCHAW highlighted that workers had expressed safety concerns even before the recent killings brought Kempton Park under scrutiny. Reports included robberies and threats encountered by individuals walking to taxi ranks after 11:00 PM. The union's previous proposals for employer-provided transport assistance for late-shift workers were reportedly rejected. FEDUSA general secretary Riefdah Ajam underscored the principle that workers should not be compelled to jeopardize their lives for an income, stating, “Workers should not have to choose between earning a living and getting home safely.” Both federations are now urging employers, government, and organized labour to collaboratively address the inherent risks faced by workers clocking off late.

Adding to the heightened anxieties, a NUHRCCHAW shop steward was reportedly kidnapped in Kempton Park on September 13. While she was later found safe, this incident further cemented the unions' call for improved safety measures, especially given her involvement in wage negotiations advocating for such protections. FEDUSA has called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of her ordeal, which occurred amidst widespread safety concerns raised by women in the Kempton Park area following multiple body discoveries.

The debate over employer responsibility for transport is also rooted in existing South African labour law. Section 17 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) stipulates that employers can only require or permit night work by agreement, provided that transport is available between an employee’s home and workplace at both the start and end of the shift. Furthermore, the Department of Employment and Labour has previously indicated that employers are obligated to consider practical measures when their working arrangements expose employees to identifiable risks. This legal framework suggests that, in certain situations, the provision of safe transport is not merely a matter of employer willingness but a statutory obligation. However, it is noted that some higher-earning employees may fall outside certain parts of the BCEA that regulate working hours, including specific provisions governing night work.

Concurrent with the unions' advocacy, police are actively investigating the deaths of eight women across Ekurhuleni, with significant progress made in identifying some victims. Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, has been identified as the third woman among these cases. Her body was positively identified by her family at the Springs Mortuary after police discovered her on the side of the road in KwaThema, Springs. Her relatives reported last seeing her alive on a Sunday, and had not yet filed a missing person report when her body was found. Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane extended condolences to the Motapane family and confirmed the intensification of the investigation.

Prior to Motapane's identification, police had already confirmed the identities of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, who disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for a run, and Itumeleng Kekana, 32, who had been reported missing. Both women's bodies were subsequently identified by their families. Police are continuing efforts to identify the remaining victims in this widening investigation.

Lieutenant-General Dimpane confirmed that a multidisciplinary team, comprising detectives and specialists, is dedicated to these cases. Investigators are working diligently to ascertain the circumstances surrounding each death, identify those responsible, and determine if any of the cases are connected. As pressure mounts for answers, police have not confirmed a single perpetrator for all eight deaths, noting that the cases have surfaced across various parts of Ekurhuleni, including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville, and KwaThema. In response, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has increased its presence and deployed additional investigative resources in the affected areas.

FEDUSA and NUHRCCHAW are now specifically urging the Department of Employment and Labour to intervene in situations where employers are perceived to have neglected their responsibilities concerning worker transport and safety. They also call upon businesses that rely on late-shift workers to thoroughly review their procedures for ensuring employees' safe passage home once their shifts conclude, aiming to prevent further tragedies and uphold workers' fundamental right to safety.