The discovery of nine women's bodies in Ekurhuleni, South Africa, has sent shockwaves throughout the community, leaving women feeling vulnerable and fearful for their safety. The bodies were found over a period of 10 weeks, with the latest victim being 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgamo, who was found behind a hotel in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, on September 12. Moselakgamo had gone missing on September 9 after leaving home for an afternoon jog.
The murders have had a profound impact on women's daily lives, with many changing their routines and becoming increasingly cautious. Babalwa Mbexe, a resident who lives near the R21, where several of the bodies were found, expressed her deep-seated fear, saying that she no longer wants to go out alone and insists on having people with her whenever she ventures out. Her 15-year-old daughter, who walks to school, has also become a source of concern, with Mbexe finding a knife in her bedroom.
According to the Human Sciences Research Council's first national gender-based violence study, 35.5% of women aged 18 and older have experienced physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime. The study's findings highlight the pervasive nature of violence against women in South Africa. Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi has acknowledged the issue, unveiling an ambitious crime-fighting plan in 2022, which includes the deployment of thousands of crime-prevention wardens, CCTV cameras, drones, and helicopters.
However, parts of the programme have faced implementation and legal challenges. In October 2025, the public protector found that the establishment, appointment, and deployment of Gauteng's crime prevention wardens had been irregular and lacked an appropriate empowering legal framework. The provincial government has since claimed to have addressed the irregularity. Lesufi did not respond to queries about the province's crime-fighting plan as the body count rose.
For women living closest to the crime scenes, the question is less about technology and more immediate, as they ask how safe they are and why it took so many murders before warnings were issued. In Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, fear has gripped the community, with many women changing their daily routines and organising themselves into groups to walk through the neighbourhood with male companions.
Crime experts, including Lt-Col Elmarie Myburgh, who headed the SAPS's investigative psychology section until taking early retirement this year, have urged investigators to examine the deaths together. Myburgh believes the murders should be investigated as though perpetrated by a serial killer, saying that this approach would allow detectives to link cases and potentially identify a suspect.
The SAPS has moved away from traditional criminal profiling towards linkage analysis, examining behaviour and similarities across cases. Myburgh criticised the amount of detail being made public about the murders, citing concerns about the potential impact on the investigation. As the community continues to grapple with the fear and uncertainty generated by the murders, authorities face mounting pressure to bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice.
Key points
- The murders have had a profound impact on women's daily lives, with many changing their routines and becoming increasingly cautious.
- Crime experts are urging investigators to examine the deaths together, potentially as part of a serial killer investigation.
- The SAPS has moved away from traditional criminal profiling towards linkage analysis, examining behaviour and similarities across cases.
