A woman's body was discovered on Saturday morning in the Vusimusi section of Thembisa South, South Africa. Police confirmed the discovery and attended to the scene with crime scene management and other role players. Further information will be provided as soon as preliminary investigations have been conducted. The circumstances surrounding the woman's death, including her identity and cause of death, have not yet been established.
The latest discovery comes less than two weeks after the murder of 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo in nearby Rhodesfield, Kempton Park. Moselakgomo went missing on September 9 after leaving home for an afternoon run and her body was found three days later. Her death has had a profound effect on women in the community, with some changing their daily routines and avoiding going out alone.
A visit to Rhodesfield found an unusually quiet neighbourhood, with residents describing how fear had changed the way they moved around the area. Women said they were organising themselves into groups, relying on male companions when going out and abandoning outdoor activities they previously enjoyed. The local taxi rank was also unusually quiet, with taxi driver Vusi Khumalo stating that business had dropped significantly since Moselakgomo's body was discovered.
The fear has also affected women who exercise outdoors. Runner Eva Morgan said her female-only running group had stopped running as a precaution, amid concerns about police visibility in the area. The group decided to stop until a few male runners accept their invites. Moselakgomo's murder is part of a wider investigation into the deaths of women around Ekurhuleni.
Police have previously confirmed that nine women's bodies had been discovered over a two-month period, with a specialised multidisciplinary task team investigating whether some of the cases are connected. The body of Gracious Nkomo, believed to be in her 30s, was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet in Dawn Park, Boksburg, on September 17.
Earlier this month, the body of another woman, believed to be in her late 20s, was found floating in a stream in Clayville, near the Mall of Thembisa. The developments have fuelled fears among residents that a serial killer could be operating in the area. However, police have not confirmed that the cases are linked or that a serial killer is responsible.
The discovery of the latest body in Thembisa South is expected to add another case to an already complex investigation as detectives work to establish the circumstances surrounding the woman's death. The probe into Moselakgomo's murder and other related cases continues, with police working to provide more information as investigations unfold.
Key points
- The body of a woman was found in Thembisa South, adding to growing concern about the deaths of women being investigated in Ekurhuleni.
- The murder of Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo has had a profound effect on women in the community, with some changing their daily routines and avoiding going out alone.
- Police are investigating whether some of the cases of women's deaths in Ekurhuleni are connected, but have not confirmed that a serial killer is responsible.
