Nine women, aged 20-30, have been found dead across Ekurhuleni, South Africa, since July. The bodies were discovered in various locations, including near the R21, Kempton Park, Rhodesfield, Olifantsfontein, Clayville, Springs, and Dawn Park in Boksburg. Most of the bodies showed visible injuries, with some partially or completely naked. The police are investigating whether the deaths are separate killings or part of a larger criminal pattern.
The latest victim, a 30-year-old woman, was found on Thursday morning in an open area on Lama Street in Villa Liza, Dawn Park. She had multiple stab wounds and her throat appeared to have been slit. The police have identified four of the victims: Itumeleng Kekana (32), Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo (38), Dineo Evelyn Motapane (38), and Gracious Nkomo (28). Identifying the victims is a crucial step towards solving the case.
Former SAPS profiler Professor Gérard Labuschagne believes the cases should be approached as a potential serial murder investigation. He recommends a dedicated task team to concentrate on possible links between cases, rather than individual detectives handling each death. Labuschagne suggests that the investigation should expand beyond recent deaths and examine older cases for similarities, including missing person reports and unsolved murders.
Acting national police commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane confirmed that a multidisciplinary team of investigators and specialists are working to establish the circumstances surrounding each death and identify those responsible. However, the nine deaths remain individual cases for now. Labuschagne emphasizes the importance of victim identification, suggesting that specialist units, such as the SAPS Victim Identification Centre and the Missing Persons Unit, be used to help identify the women.
Forensic pathologist Dr Yaseen Bismilla notes that nine bodies being found in the same area does not necessarily establish a serial killer. The critical question is whether the killings can be scientifically and investigatively linked to the same offender or offenders. Post-mortem examinations can reveal the nature of injuries and help recover evidence that could connect a victim, suspect, object, or location to a crime scene.
The investigation will also examine the locations where the bodies were found, including whether the women were killed there or their bodies were transported and dumped. Investigators will look for similarities in the injuries, methods used to conceal or abandon the bodies, and whether the victims were approached in a similar way. The police are urging the public to provide any information that may help solve the case.
As the investigation continues, experts stress the importance of time, as decomposition may limit the forensic information that can be recovered from a body. The police are working to establish a timeline of each victim's final hours, including their movements, phone calls, and interactions. By identifying possible connections and patterns, investigators hope to catch the person or people responsible for the killings.
Key points
- Police investigating possible connections between nine women found dead in Ekurhuleni since July
- Former SAPS profiler suggests approaching cases as potential serial murder investigation
- Forensic experts examining evidence to determine if killings are linked to same offender or offenders
