South African police have expanded their investigation into the deaths of nine women in Ekurhuleni after confirming that some of the cases may have links, while the Department of Home Affairs has been brought in to help identify victims and trace possible leads.
The latest development follows the discovery of another woman’s body in Dawn Park, Boksburg, on Thursday morning, 17 September. The discovery brought the number of women whose bodies have been found across the Ekurhuleni area since July to nine.
Police have stressed that the cases have not been formally classified as the work of a serial killer. Investigators are still comparing forensic evidence and information from different crime scenes before determining whether the deaths form part of a connected series.
Home Affairs brought in to identify victims
Acting Gauteng provincial police commissioner Major General Fred Kekana said investigators had identified possible connections between some of the cases, but further forensic and investigative work would be required before those links could be confirmed.
The South African Police Service has now asked Home Affairs to assist with biometric information, including fingerprint records, as several of the victims have yet to be identified.
Senior Home Affairs officials, including immigration representatives at national and provincial level, have joined the investigation. Police hope that establishing the identities of the women will help investigators reconstruct their movements, determine who last saw them and establish whether any of the victims knew each other.
The biometric information could also assist investigators in establishing the identities and backgrounds of other people who emerge during the investigation.
Police are separately following a person of interest, while a man arrested in connection with the first murder reported in July remains in custody. Authorities have not publicly established that either individual is connected to the wider series of deaths.
The involvement of Home Affairs comes as police seek to establish the identities of victims and verify information surrounding a suspect whose nationality is also being investigated. Deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said investigators were obtaining fingerprint records as part of that process.
Ninth body adds to growing investigation
The ninth victim was found near Lama Street in Dawn Park after a passer-by alerted authorities. Acting commissioner Kekana said preliminary information indicated that the woman may have been killed elsewhere before her body was left in Dawn Park.
A multidisciplinary team involving detectives, forensic specialists and other police units is working across the cases.
Only some of the victims have so far been publicly identified. They include Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, Itumeleng Kekana and 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane. Motapane was identified by her family at the Springs mortuary after her body was found beside a road in KwaThema.
The latest discovery came as government officials and community members gathered at the Kempton Park Civic Centre for a memorial dialogue focused on gender-based violence and femicide.
Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia delivered a message from President Cyril Ramaphosa to families mourning the deaths. Ramaphosa said the country stood with the affected families and communities, while acknowledging that authorities had yet to identify all the victims.
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga also addressed mourners during the gathering.
Despite the number of deaths and the newly identified possible links, police have not confirmed that one offender was responsible for all nine cases. Investigators are continuing to compare evidence from the various crime scenes before drawing conclusions about whether the cases are connected.
Police have appealed to families who have relatives missing in the area to contact authorities. Members of the public with information can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or submit information through the MySAPS app.
The investigation now involves SAPS detectives, forensic specialists, crime intelligence officials and Home Affairs as authorities work to identify the remaining victims and establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths.