South Africa prioritises investigation after seven women’s bodies found near Kempton Park

Seven deaths under investigation

South African police are investigating the deaths of seven women whose bodies were found in and around Kempton Park, north-east of Johannesburg, over roughly two months. The number rose on 15 September when another body was discovered and officers added an earlier case from a nearby town to the inquiry. President Cyril Ramaphosa directed law-enforcement agencies to prioritise the cases and bring those responsible to justice.

Police have not established one perpetrator

Authorities have not concluded that a serial killer is responsible. Investigators are examining whether the deaths are connected, whether more than one person is involved or whether some cases may be copycat crimes. One person is in custody in connection with the first body discovered, but police have announced no comprehensive theory linking all seven deaths. Most of the victims have not yet been publicly identified.

A runner's killing sharpened public alarm

One identified victim was Elizabeth Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old runner who disappeared after leaving for a routine jog. Her body was found three days later, and relatives identified her on 14 September. Police have advised women around Kempton Park to avoid walking or running alone in isolated areas. The warning has intensified criticism that ordinary movement remains unsafe for women in a country already confronting severe gender-based violence.

The national policy context

South Africa's July 2026 submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women documents the country's National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide and associated government programmes. Earlier findings by the committee described persistent systemic failures in implementing laws and policies, including shortcomings in investigation, prosecution and accountability. The Kempton Park cases will test whether prioritisation at presidential level produces a faster and more transparent response.

What investigators must establish

The immediate priorities are identifying the remaining victims, determining causes and times of death, comparing forensic evidence and clarifying whether the locations or methods reveal a common pattern. Officials must also avoid presenting an unproven serial-killer theory as fact. Public confidence will depend on verified links, charges supported by evidence and regular information for affected families. This is a domestic security and human-rights crisis, not a military alert.