Task Team Investigates Eight Women Found Dead
Task Team Investigates Eight Women Found Dead
Anonymous
Key Points
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One publicly identified victim was Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old mother and runner who disappeared during a run; she has been described as the only publicly identified victim among eight women found dead over roughly two months.
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Police said one of the Rhodesfield-area cases involved a 37-year-old woman allegedly killed by her boyfriend in July; he has been arrested, while two other cases in that group remained under investigation.
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The reported discoveries extended beyond Kempton Park and Rhodesfield: a fifth woman was found partially clothed in Olifantsfontein, more than 20 kilometres from Rhodesfield, and another woman’s body was later discovered in Kwa-Thema.
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The task team is drawing on specialised detectives, forensic experts, intelligence resources and the SAPS Investigative Psychology Unit, with maximum police resources reportedly committed to the investigation.
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Reporting from the crime scenes found near-total darkness on major routes including the M1 South and R24, while sections of the R21 had empty lamp-post fixtures; in Rhodesfield, weak streetlights, overgrown grass and deep roadside ditches compounded the danger, alongside an absence of visible police presence.
Police in South Africa are investigating the deaths of eight women found in and around Kempton Park and Ekurhuleni over roughly two months, with one publicly identified victim — Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old mother and runner who disappeared during a jog Airdrie City View. Authorities have formed a multidisciplinary task team and committed maximum investigative resources, while President Cyril Ramaphosa called for a manhunt. However, police caution it is too early to conclude the cases are connected or the work of one perpetrator.
The discoveries have intensified concern over violence against women in South Africa, where 569 women were reported murdered between April and June 2026 Journal News. Advocates and officials are criticizing the official response as too slow and blame unsafe urban infrastructure — including near-total darkness on major routes, overgrown roadsides, and minimal police visibility — for heightening women's vulnerability.
Scattered Discoveries Across Multiple Areas
The eight women's bodies have been found across several locations in the Ekurhuleni municipality east of Johannesburg. One victim was discovered partially clothed in Olifantsfontein, more than 20 kilometres from Rhodesfield, while another body was found in Kwa-Thema Dayton Daily News. Police said one Rhodesfield case involved a 37-year-old woman allegedly killed by her boyfriend in July; he has been arrested while two other cases in that group remain under investigation.
Task Team Deploys Specialized Investigative Resources
Authorities assembled a multidisciplinary task team drawing on specialized detectives, forensic experts, intelligence resources, and the SAPS Investigative Psychology Unit WFMZ. Police committed maximum resources to the investigation after criticism that the initial response was too slow. The team is working to determine whether the cases are linked or the work of a single perpetrator, though officials have not yet confirmed a connection.
Dangerous Infrastructure Puts Women at Risk
Crime scene investigations found near-total darkness on major routes including the M1 South and R24. Sections of the R21 had empty lamp-post fixtures Audacy. In Rhodesfield, weak streetlights, overgrown grass, and deep roadside ditches compounded danger, alongside an absence of visible police presence. These conditions create ideal environments for violence against women.
Advocates Demand Prevention, Not Burden on Women
Women's rights advocates are criticizing official advice that places responsibility on women to avoid isolated areas, run in groups, share locations, and remain vigilant. They argue women already take extensive precautions and that police and the state must provide prevention, accountability, and effective protection Airdrie City View. The cases highlight a broader national crisis of violence against women that requires systemic change, not warnings to potential victims.
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