Serial killings in Ekurhuleni spark urgent safety crisis for residents

Six women are dead in Ekurhuleni, and the families left behind are demanding answers.

The discovery of a sixth woman’s body in the Gauteng area has deepened fear among residents and intensified pressure on law enforcement to act. Two bodies were found on separate occasions this week: one on Monday, 14 September 2026, and another on Tuesday, 15 September 2026. These latest discoveries follow the recovery of four women’s remains in the same region over roughly two months, beginning in July.

For women living in Ekurhuleni, the killings have created a climate of anxiety that police leadership has publicly acknowledged. Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili addressed the situation directly during a media briefing on Monday evening, delivering a stark warning to whoever is responsible. “You may think that you have removed the evidence. You may think that nobody saw you or knows who you are. Do not make that mistake,” Mosikili said. The message was unambiguous: “You have left a trail. And we are following it. We are coming for you.”

Behind that warning is a coordinated investigative effort. Forensic experts are analyzing evidence left at scenes, intelligence officers are gathering information, and tracking teams are pursuing all available leads. The South African Police Service and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department have both mobilized additional resources and personnel to the area. Enhanced patrols and increased police visibility are now in place across Ekurhuleni as part of a tightened security response.

Meanwhile, the human cost of these crimes has a name. Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38 years old, was positively identified by her family as one of the victims. Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane extended condolences to her family and made a direct commitment to them. “The loss of a loved one under such circumstances is devastating, and we assure the family that the SAPS will do everything within its powers to establish exactly what happened to Elizabeth and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” Dimpane said.

Dimpane also reaffirmed the broader duty police owe to the public. “We will not rest until we have established the truth. Where there is evidence linking individuals to these crimes, we will pursue them relentlessly and ensure that they face the full might of the law.” That statement was released on Monday afternoon, following a high-level operational meeting between police leadership and the investigating team.

Progress, though partial, has been made. In connection with the first case, one suspect has been arrested and positively linked to the murder; that individual remains in custody. A multidisciplinary team of detectives and specialized policing resources has been deployed across all five cases currently under investigation. Mosikili stressed that both agencies possess “the capability, the resources and the determination to find you,” framing the suspect’s freedom as a matter of time, not outcome.

What remains unresolved is whether the cases are connected, and whether the communities most affected will see justice before more lives are lost. Official statements from police leadership are available at https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/those-responsible-ekurhuleni-murders-will-be-caught-saps.