Bodies of 12 women found in South Africa over two months — BBC News World
In the Ekurhuleni area east of Johannesburg, South Africa, the bodies of 12 women were found over two months. Police reported the discovery of three bodies between Saturday and Monday morning, bringing the number of such cases since July to 12, BBC News reports.
Law enforcement officers have made arrests in three cases. According to police, these cases do not appear to be connected to the other deaths, but investigators do not rule out the possibility that a serial killer may be involved in some of the crimes. The discoveries in the Kempton Park area caused the greatest concern.
Known circumstances of the cases
The first of the women whose body was found in Ekurhuleni during this period was 37-year-old Busisiwe Malangu. Her body was discovered on July 15, 2026, in Kempton Park. Two days later, police detained a suspect believed to be her partner. He is not linked to the other deaths.
On August 3, the body of 32-year-old Itumeleng Kekana, who had disappeared in July, was found in Kempton Park. On August 26, the body of Nomfesane Mdjobo was discovered there as well. No arrests have been made in these two cases. On September 12, the body of 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo was found after she disappeared during her daily run near her home in Kempton Park.
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Other women whose bodies were found include 38-year-old Dineo Motapane, found on September 15 in Springs, and Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was found on September 17 in Boksburg. In Ntimba's case, police initially detained three people. A man was later released due to insufficient evidence, while two women were charged with premeditated murder and obstructing the administration of justice.
Investigation and statistics
On September 26, the body of Ntombifuthi Nksumalo was found at a cemetery in the Tembisa area. Police believe she may have been killed with stones, and the following day they detained a 36-year-old man who was charged with murder. Another unidentified woman was found in Springs, while a 23-year-old woman was shot in Tembisa as she was heading to work; police are treating the case as a likely robbery.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the killings of women and other similar crimes “a stain on our national conscience.” According to the South African Human Rights Commission, 569 women were killed in the country from April to June this year — an average of six a day. Police have set up a special investigative team and announced a reward of 400,000 rand for information that helps make arrests.
