Full Breakdown
Tenth Female Body Discovered in Ekurhuleni, Raising Serial-Killer Fears
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
Since mid-July 2026, police have recovered nine women’s bodies in the Ekurhuleni municipality east of Johannesburg, most found partially clothed in open areas near main roads. The victims, all in their 20s or 30s, were discovered in Kempton Park, Tembisa and surrounding townships. The latest discovery on September 26, 2026 brings the total to ten, reviving public anxiety that a serial offender may be operating in the region.
Key Figures & Groups
- Lt Gen Tommy Mthombeni – Gauteng police commissioner overseeing the investigation.
- Cyril Ramaphosa – President of South Africa, addressing the killings on the campaign trail.
- South African Police Service (SAPS) – Issuing official statements and coordinating crime-scene management.
- Amnesty International South Africa – Human-rights organization calling for urgent safety measures.
- Commission for Gender Equality – Government body urging a safety review involving police and local authorities.
Data & Statistics
- Ten female bodies recovered in Ekurhuleni since July 2026.
- Victims’ ages range from early 20s to late 30s; many were found semi-naked or partially clothed.
- The national 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Command Centre logged 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and mid-September, averaging 424 calls per day, a 21 % rise from August.
- Rewards offered: 400,000 rand from law enforcement and roughly $31,000 from the Democratic Alliance for information leading to arrests.
Criticism & Opposition
The Commission for Gender Equality called for an immediate safety review that includes police, local government and transport authorities, warning that existing efforts have been insufficient.
On-the-Ground Reports
Runner Nancy Masha explained that after the murder of fellow runner Elizabeth Moselakgomo she now carries pepper spray and a knife on her daily jogs, saying, “Our runner was brutally killed. I needed a way to protect myself because I am a woman and also a runner.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Police have publicly stated that the ninth killing was likely the result of a relationship dispute, yet they have not ruled out links among the other cases. While some investigators point to shared victimology and modus operandi, no conclusive forensic evidence has tied the ten deaths to a single perpetrator. The identity of the tenth victim remains undisclosed, and the precise motive for each killing is still under investigation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “For now, it's not something which we can overrule to say there's a serial killer, but we cannot conclusively indicate as such,” — Lt Gen Mthombeni, gauteng police commissioner
- “I’ve sadly heard about 10th body of a woman found in Thembisa,” — Cyril Ramaphosa, problem prompted president
- “Our runner was brutally killed. I needed a way to protect myself because I am a woman and also a runner,” — Nancy Masha
- “We are not trained to use those things,” — Hlompho Matji, 47, a data analyst and runner
What's Next
Authorities continue to pursue leads, with detectives and specialist units assigned to identify and apprehend the eight suspects believed to be involved in the latest case. The government’s reward programmes remain active, and the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre is expected to maintain heightened monitoring of distress calls as the investigation proceeds.