Eight women found dead in Gauteng raise fears of a serial killer

Over the past two months, South African police have recovered eight female bodies in the Kempton Park region east of Johannesburg, igniting a nationwide outcry over violent crime against women. Gauteng provincial commissioner Fred Kekana cautioned against prematurely branding the deaths as the work of a single serial killer, noting that investigators are comparing evidence, timelines and victim profiles to determine whether the cases are linked.

All victims were young women between 20 and 38 years old, found either naked or partially clothed with visible bruises, and the locations of discovery span Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein and Kwa-Thema. Among them, 38-year-old runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo was identified after her daughter reported her missing. A suspect believed to be the first victim’s boyfriend has been detained. The murders have highlighted South Africa’s high femicide rate, with 5,427 murders recorded between April and July, and police have announced a cash reward for tips.