Serial killings spark safety crisis in South Africa's Ekurhuleni district

Women in Ekurhuleni are afraid to leave their homes. That fear deepened Thursday morning when police confirmed the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in less than two months, found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet on a roadside in Dawn Park. The victim, believed to be in her 30s, remains unidentified as authorities work to establish her identity and the circumstances of her death.

For residents across this sprawling urban region east of Johannesburg, the string of discoveries since July has made ordinary life feel dangerous. Bongeka Sebela, a local resident, put it plainly: “We are scared to come out of our houses. We are scared to go to the shops. We are no longer free in a country where we are supposed to be safe as women.” Her words reflect what neighbors across Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville, and KwaThema say has become a daily reality: the erosion of basic freedom and personal safety.

The victims identified so far include Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, who vanished after leaving home for an afternoon run last week and was found three days later behind a hotel in Kempton Park. Itumeleng Kekana, missing since July, and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, found roadside in KwaThema on Tuesday, have also been named. The latest victim showed signs of bruising and stab wounds, according to local media reports.

Police have not established definitive links between all nine deaths, though several women were found partially clothed with visible injuries. A suspect arrested two days after the first body was discovered on July 15 remains in custody. Authorities have stressed, however, that this individual has not been connected to the other eight cases. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia cautioned against premature conclusions, describing the cases at this stage as “quite distinct, separate events.” Investigators are also examining whether a group of people, rather than a single perpetrator, may be responsible.

The investigation has drawn significant resources. A multidisciplinary team of detectives, intelligence officers, forensic experts, and specialists has been assembled to examine potential connections and pursue a person of interest whose involvement in specific cases has not been disclosed. A 400,000 rand reward (approximately $24,000 or £18,000) has been offered for information leading to arrests. Police have also appealed to families of missing persons to come forward and help identify victims who remain unnamed.

President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged that “no stone will be left unturned” in pursuing those responsible, describing the killings as events “causing fear and uncertainty in our communities.” Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi declared Thursday that “the gloves are off,” asserting that authorities had the capacity to address the violence.

Meanwhile, police have issued direct safety guidance to women in the region. They recommend avoiding walking alone or using isolated routes, staying alert to strangers and suspicious vehicles, and sharing location or travel plans with trusted contacts. Officers also advised against wearing earphones at high volume, which reduces awareness of surroundings. “Practising personal safety measures can save lives,” police stated, though many residents will note the painful irony of being told to restrict their movements in communities where they should be free.

The crisis sits within a broader and deeply entrenched pattern of gender violence in South Africa. The country records some of the world’s highest rates of violence against women, with women killed at five times the global average, according to UN Women. Last November, South Africa classified violence against women a national disaster following widespread protests and an online campaign, a formal acknowledgment of how systemic the threat has become.

Whether the resources now mobilized in Ekurhuleni will produce arrests, and whether those arrests will hold, is the question residents are waiting to have answered.