One person has been arrested after allegedly being found in possession of an item belonging to murdered runner Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo.
The 38-year-old Moselakgomo disappeared while out on her regular afternoon jog in Rhodesfield, Ekurhuleni. She was found dead several days later, having suffered severe injuries.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the arrested suspect was expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The suspect is facing a charge of being in possession of stolen property.
“At this stage, no murder charge has been brought against the suspect. Investigations are ongoing,” she added.
The distinction between the current charge and the murder investigation is significant. While police allege that the suspect was found with an item belonging to Moselakgomo, the arrest does not mean that the person has been charged with or formally linked to her killing.
Police have not released details about the item allegedly recovered, how it was identified as belonging to Moselakgomo or where the suspect was arrested. The identity of the suspect has also not been made public.
Runner disappeared during afternoon jog
Moselakgomo was reported missing after she failed to return from her regular afternoon run in Rhodesfield. Her disappearance prompted concern among relatives, friends and members of the local running community.
She was later found dead. Reports described her as being found half-naked and badly beaten, although police have not released a full account of the circumstances surrounding her death.
The details of the discovery, the cause of death and the sequence of events leading to her killing remain part of the investigation. Police have not confirmed whether she was attacked at the location where she was found or whether her body was moved there.
The investigation is expected to include forensic work, witness interviews and an examination of Moselakgomo’s movements before she disappeared. Detectives will also seek to establish how the recovered item came into the arrested person’s possession.
No murder charge at this stage
Mathe’s statement makes clear that the arrested suspect currently faces only a stolen-property charge. The person’s appearance in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court will deal with that allegation, while detectives continue investigating the circumstances of Moselakgomo’s death.
“At this stage, no murder charge has been brought against the suspect. Investigations are ongoing,” Mathe said.
The suspect’s court appearance does not determine guilt. The state will have to present its case through the criminal justice process, and the accused remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.
Police may still bring additional charges if further evidence links the suspect to the murder. Equally, the current stolen-property allegation does not by itself establish involvement in the killing.
Authorities have not said whether other suspects are being sought or whether the recovered property formed part of a larger group of belongings taken from Moselakgomo.
Investigation continues
Moselakgomo’s death has caused distress in the Rhodesfield community, where she was known to run regularly. Her disappearance and the discovery of her body have also raised concern among people who use the area for exercise and commuting.
Investigators will need to establish what happened during the jog, identify the person or people responsible for the attack and determine whether the murder was opportunistic or targeted.
They will also examine possible links between the alleged stolen property and the events surrounding Moselakgomo’s disappearance. The item could provide a lead, but its evidentiary value will depend on how it was recovered, how ownership is confirmed and what other evidence detectives uncover.
Police have not released information about a possible motive. No murder charge has been announced, and the investigation remains active.
The arrested suspect is expected to appear in the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on the stolen-property charge. The court process and ongoing police work may provide further information about the alleged possession of Moselakgomo’s property, but any conclusion about the murder will depend on evidence gathered during the investigation.
For now, one person has been arrested in connection with an item allegedly belonging to the slain runner, while the circumstances of Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo’s death remain under investigation.