Kempton Park Terrified: Serial Killer Fears Mount as Seven Bodies Found and Child Raises Alarm

A profound sense of fear and confusion has intensified across the community of Ekurhuleni as the grim discovery of women's bodies continues to climb. A total of seven women's bodies have now been linked to investigations in and around the area since July, with a worrying four of these discoveries made in just the past few days alone. The latest, a seventh woman, was found floating in a river in Clayville, near the Mall of Thembisa, on September 7. This followed the discovery of a sixth body on a roadside in KwaThema, Springs, on Tuesday, and a fifth body found in a veld at Olifantsfontein the day prior.

The identities and circumstances surrounding the victims vary, yet a pattern of violence is evident. The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found unclothed and restrained with cable ties near the R21 on July 15, leading to the arrest of her boyfriend who remains in custody. A second body, belonging to a 32-year-old woman, was discovered near the R21 on August 24. An unidentified third woman was found on September 10 in an advanced state of decomposition. The fourth victim, discovered in Rhodesfield on September 12, was later identified as Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old Kempton Park runner whose disappearance had caused widespread alarm. Forensic tests have confirmed sexual assault in four of the cases so far.

Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo’s tragic case highlights the personal toll of these events. Her eight-year-old daughter was the first to raise concern when her mother did not return from her usual afternoon run to their Rhodesfield home by 6:30 PM. The quick-thinking child immediately contacted relatives, prompting a family search that escalated into a full police investigation involving checks at hospitals and mortuaries. Her uncle praised the young girl for recognizing something was wrong and acting swiftly. The search concluded tragically with the formal identification of Moselakgomo’s body at the Germiston mortuary, leaving her family, who remembered her as a devoted mother and the “glue” that held them together, in mourning. Her death also resonated within the running community, with tributes extended from Athletics South Africa.

Despite the rising body count, National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has repeatedly cautioned against prematurely labeling these incidents as the work of a serial killer. Mathe stated, “We are simply not there yet. We are relying on experts to advise accordingly.” This caution stems from ongoing examinations into the possibility of multiple perpetrators rather than a single individual, a theory seemingly supported by the arrest in connection with the first victim’s death. South African Police Service (SAPS) operates with a broader definition of a serial killer than the FBI's widely cited standard. While the FBI defines a serial killer as someone who kills two or more victims in separate incidents with a typical “cooling-off” period, SAPS officially defines it as killing two or more victims on at least two separate occasions. This wider, more inclusive definition allows investigators to be more measured in their pronouncements.

Investigators employ various techniques to identify patterns between cases, including looking for a killer’s modus operandi (MO) – the specific methods used – and any “signature” behaviors that repeat across crime scenes, often revealing unconscious psychological fingerprints. Geographic profiling is also crucial, as investigators map the locations where bodies are found to predict an offender’s “comfort zone” – the area where they feel safe enough to operate. In response to the crisis, Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, alongside acting Gauteng commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana and Ekurhuleni metro police chief Isaac Mapiyeye, briefed reporters, confirming a 72-hour intensified investigation. This multi-unit effort involves detectives, forensic investigators, the K9 unit, tracing unit, metro police, and crime intelligence. Mosikili delivered a pointed message to those responsible, declaring, “Your days are numbered. This is not a threat, it’s a fact.” President Cyril Ramaphosa has also directed police to urgently investigate and solve the murders, while police are also examining potential clues from a woman who recently escaped an alleged abduction attempt in the area.

The police's cautious approach is strategic; prematurely confirming a serial killer could misdirect an investigation, narrow the suspect pool incorrectly, or ignite public panic based on an unconfirmed theory. SAPS relies on its Investigative Psychology Unit to establish victim profile types and behavioral patterns before drawing definitive conclusions, which is standard practice in modern criminal profiling. While this precision is vital for the investigation, for the women living in and around Ekurhuleni, the caution offers little comfort, feeling instead like broken promises and a further erosion of safety in a country already grappling with high levels of violence against women. Many argue that South Africa is long past the point of needing a wake-up call regarding this critical issue.