Seven women are dead, bodies are turning up across the same area, and now police are warning women to be extra cautious ,but authorities still cannot say whether a serial killer is behind the deaths.
South African police are investigating the deaths of seven women whose bodies have been discovered in and around Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, over the past two months. The growing number of cases has sparked fears that women could be being deliberately targeted, prompting police to intensify investigations and issue a public safety warning.
The latest discovery was made on Tuesday in Kwa-Thema, about 34 kilometres from Kempton Park. Police said the woman’s body was found naked and in an advanced state of decomposition.
Another body was discovered in Olifantsfontein on Monday, while the body of 38-year-old Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo was found Saturday after she disappeared while jogging in Kempton Park.
Moselakgomo’s disappearance had triggered a community search and social media campaign. Her death, followed by the discovery of additional bodies, intensified public concern over the safety of women using roads and open spaces in the area.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said the similarities between the cases were serious enough to warrant a public warning, but stressed that investigators had not confirmed that a serial killer was responsible. Authorities are examining whether the deaths could involve one perpetrator, several perpetrators or unrelated offenders.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered police to prioritize the investigations, saying authorities must leave no stone unturned in identifying those responsible. Police have also appealed to members of the public to provide information that could assist investigators.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia described the discoveries as deeply disturbing and said a multidisciplinary investigation had been established to determine whether the cases are connected.
The deaths have also reignited concerns about South Africa’s wider crisis of violence against women. Official figures show the country recorded 5,427 murders between April and July 2026, an average of about 45 killings a day.
The Commission for Gender Equality has called for urgent safety audits in the affected areas, including assessments of street lighting, surveillance, pedestrian routes, public transport, police visibility and access to emergency assistance.
For now, the identity of whoever may be responsible remains unknown. But with seven women dead and investigators still working to establish the connection between the cases, fear continues to spread across communities east of Johannesburg.
