Bodies of Unclothed Women Found in Succession... Fears of Serial Killings Spread Over 'Deaths of Eight' in South Africa

Ramaphosa Orders Investigation as Top Priority
South African Society Shocked by Violent Crimes Against Women

In Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, eight women have been found dead consecutively over the past two months, spreading fear of a 'serial killer' in the local community. In response, the police have organized a large-scale special investigative team and announced a reward of 400,000 rand (approximately 30 million won). They also plan to significantly increase police deployment in Kempton Park, where most of the victims were discovered, as well as the surrounding areas.

President Cyril Ramaphosa also instructed the police to prioritize the investigation of these cases. Ramaphosa appealed to citizens to provide related information to the police, urging, "Use all means to bring the responsible parties to justice." Photo by AFP Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News on September 17, citing South African local media, a series of bodies presumed to be female victims of crime have been found over the past two months in Ekurhuleni (also known as the East Rand), adjacent to Johannesburg, South Africa's largest city, prompting authorities to issue an emergency alert. The South African police are currently investigating a total of eight cases of female deaths. The bodies were found in various parts of Ekurhuleni, including Kempton Park, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, Rosefield, and KwaThema. Many of the victims are believed to be in their 20s or 30s, and several cases involved the bodies being found either naked or partially unclothed.

The first case occurred on July 15 at a vacant lot near the R21 highway in Kempton Park. At that time, the body of a 37-year-old woman was found naked and tied with cable ties. Then, on August 24, another body—a 32-year-old woman—was found near the same stretch of the R21. Since the beginning of this month, additional female bodies have been discovered in Clayville, Olifantsfontein, Rosefield, and KwaThema. However, while police say that some incidents share similarities in location and patterns of victimization, at this stage there is not enough evidence to conclusively classify the cases as the work of a 'serial killer.'

Among the victims, on September 12, the body of Elizabeth 'Choncho' Moselakgomo (38), who had gone out jogging near the R21 highway in Rosefield and was then reported missing, was discovered dead, causing significant shock in the local community. Moselakgomo left her home on September 9 for a routine run and did not return. Her 8-year-old daughter is said to have alerted relatives to her disappearance. The family confirmed her identity on September 14.

Local running clubs and residents held a group run to honor Moselakgomo’s memory and are demanding that the government implement measures to ensure an environment where women can exercise and move about safely. The South African Commission for Gender Equality also called for an urgent safety inspection in the Kempton Park area, including improvements to road lighting, CCTV coverage, pedestrian walkways, public transport hubs, and police patrol systems.

Efforts to identify the victims are ongoing. Initially, police indicated that only two out of eight victims had been identified, but as of the night of the 16th, the victim found in KwaThema was confirmed to be 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane. Motapane was last seen on September 13, and her body was discovered before her family was able to file a missing person report. Accordingly, at least three victims have now been identified.

In Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, eight women have been found dead in the past two months, spreading fear of a "serial killer" within the local community. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

The South African police have assigned a multidisciplinary task force including investigation, criminal intelligence, and forensic personnel, and will pay a 400,000 rand reward to anyone providing crucial information leading to the arrest of suspects. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia announced that police would conduct large-scale patrols and checkpoints in Kempton Park and neighboring areas for the next several weeks, warning that police activity would be intense enough to nearly amount to a local lockdown.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has also instructed the police to make these cases their top priority. Ramaphosa appealed to the public, saying, "Use all means to bring those responsible to justice," and asked citizens to provide any relevant information to the police.

The South African government and police authorities have characterized this situation as a 'national crisis' and are escalating their response. South Africa declared gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) a national crisis last year as well. However, police are warning against the spread of unverified rumors about a 'serial killer' or posts identifying specific individuals as suspects on social media. They stressed that until the investigation concludes, it should not be assumed that all eight cases are the work of the same perpetrator or organization.

The Korean Embassy in South Africa also issued an emergency safety notice on September 16, urging Koreans and travelers in the area to take special precautions. The embassy recommended avoiding outings at night, walking alone as a woman, and traveling to remote places such as riversides or vacant lots in Clayville, Tembisa, Olifantsfontein, and KwaThema in Ekurhuleni, where serious violent crimes have occurred. Additionally, in anticipation of police checkpoints and area lockdowns, the embassy advised people to carry their passports or ID at all times and to cooperate with police instructions.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.