The discovery of a fifth woman’s body has intensified concern across Ekurhuleni as police investigate a string of deaths in and around Kempton Park.
The latest body was found in Olifantsfontein on Monday, adding a new location to an investigation that already involves four women whose bodies were discovered in the Kempton Park area over the past two months.
Olifantsfontein is about 25km north of the location where the last body was found outside a hotel. Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the latest victim or the circumstances surrounding her death.
The discovery comes as the family of missing runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo is expected to visit the Germiston state mortuary to identify a body found near York Street in Rhodesfield on Saturday.
The identity of that body has not been confirmed publicly. The family’s visit to the mortuary will be an important step in establishing whether it is Moselakgomo, who has been missing, or another woman.
The latest development has left families and residents waiting for answers while police work to determine whether the deaths are connected. At this stage, no official confirmation has been given that the five cases are linked, and the discovery in Olifantsfontein does not by itself establish that the same person or people were responsible.
Police are expected to examine the circumstances of the latest death, the location where the body was found and any evidence that may help identify the woman. Investigators will also need to establish when she died and whether there are witnesses or security recordings that could assist the inquiry.
The Olifantsfontein discovery follows the deaths of four other women whose bodies were found in the Kempton Park area during the previous two months. Police have been investigating similarities in the cases and have already expressed concern about the number of victims and the locations involved.
The latest body was found 25km north of the previous discovery outside a hotel. That distance may become relevant as detectives map the locations and timelines linked to the cases, although investigators will have to establish whether the geographical spread has any meaning.
Police have not disclosed the identity of the woman found in Olifantsfontein. They have also not released details about the condition of the body or the exact circumstances of the discovery. Those details may only become available after relatives have been notified and the necessary examinations have taken place.
The family of Moselakgomo is now facing a separate and painful wait. Relatives are expected to go to the Germiston state mortuary on Monday to identify a body found near York Street in Rhodesfield on Saturday.
Moselakgomo is known as a runner, and her disappearance has caused deep concern among people who have been following the search for her. Until the identification process is completed, it remains unconfirmed whether the body found in Rhodesfield is hers.
The mortuary visit will allow the family to provide or confirm an identification, but the process may also involve further official checks. Police and forensic officials will be responsible for confirming the identity through the evidence available to them.
For the families of the women whose bodies have been found, the uncertainty has been devastating. Relatives are waiting for police to explain what happened, while communities are trying to protect themselves and make sense of the deaths.
The investigation has also renewed concerns about the safety of women who walk, run or travel alone in the area. Residents may now be paying closer attention to isolated roads, open spaces and places where people can disappear from public view.
Police have not stated that a serial killer is responsible for the deaths. Any possible link between the cases will have to be established through evidence, including forensic results, witness statements, video footage and information about the victims’ movements.
The finding of another body means investigators may now have to examine a wider geographical area. Olifantsfontein, Kempton Park and Rhodesfield are separate locations, and detectives will need to determine whether there are similarities between the latest case and the four earlier deaths.
They may also examine whether the women were last seen in similar circumstances, whether the bodies were found in comparable locations and whether there is any common link between the victims. The identities of the women and the circumstances of their deaths will be central to that work.
For the public, however, the latest discovery has created an immediate sense of fear. Many residents are likely to want clear information about whether they are in danger, but police must first verify the evidence before confirming any pattern or naming a possible suspect.
The investigation is still developing. The identity of the Olifantsfontein victim remains unknown, while the identity of the woman found near York Street also awaits confirmation. Until those processes are complete, no conclusion can be drawn about whether either body is connected to a missing-person case or to the other deaths.
The family of Moselakgomo is expected to visit the Germiston state mortuary as investigators continue working to establish the facts. If the body is identified as Moselakgomo, the family will face the painful task of seeking answers about how she died. If it is not her, the search for the missing runner will continue.
Police are likely to appeal to residents, motorists, security guards, hotel workers and anyone who was in the relevant areas to share information. People may have seen a vehicle, a person or unusual activity that could help establish what happened before the bodies were found.
Residents should avoid spreading unverified information or confronting people they suspect may be involved. Rumours can place innocent people in danger and make it harder for investigators to identify reliable witnesses.
Anyone who believes they have information about the latest discovery or the missing runner is urged to contact the police. Families are also encouraged to report missing persons and provide investigators with recent photographs, details about clothing, phone records and information about the person’s usual movements.
The discovery of a fifth body has now taken the investigation beyond the original Kempton Park area. It has also placed more pressure on police to determine whether the deaths are connected and to provide answers to families who have been left waiting.
For now, the identity of the Olifantsfontein victim is unknown. The body found near York Street remains subject to identification, and Moselakgomo’s family is expected to attend the Germiston state mortuary as the process continues.
The cases remain under investigation. Until the forensic work and identification processes are complete, the full picture cannot be known. But the growing number of deaths has made the investigation urgent, and communities across Ekurhuleni are waiting to learn whether a wider threat exists and who may be responsible.
