The discoveries have sent shockwaves across the country, reignited anger over South Africa's femicide crisis and led police to offer a R400,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest.
What Police Know So Far
The bodies were found at multiple locations across the Ekurhuleni municipality, including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and Kwa-Thema. All the victims were women between the ages of 20 and 38 and most were found naked or partially clothed, with visible bruising.
The first body was discovered on 15 July near the R21 highway in Kempton Park. The woman, aged 37, was found naked and restrained with cable ties. A suspect, reportedly her boyfriend, was arrested two days later and remains in custody.
A 32-year-old woman was found in the same area on 24 August, partially clothed. Then, on 7 September, a woman believed to be in her late twenties was found floating in a river in Clayville, Olifantsfontein. She was found without clothing apart from her underwear.
The Disappearance of Elizabeth Moselakgomo
One of the victims has been identified as 38-year-old Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, a mother and keen runner who disappeared after leaving her eight-year-old daughter at home to go for a run on 9 September. Her partially clothed and badly beaten body was discovered behind a hotel in Rhodesfield three days later. Her family formally identified her on 14 September.
Her death prompted emotional tributes from running clubs and intensified calls for authorities to protect women exercising outdoors.
Two more bodies were discovered in the days that followed—one in Olifantsfontein on 14 September and another in Kwa-Thema on 15 September. The Kwa-Thema victim was found naked and in an advanced state of decomposition behind a club.
Are the Deaths Connected?
Police have not confirmed that the deaths are the work of a single perpetrator. Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Fred Kekana said it would be "premature at this stage to conclude that the four cases are linked or that they involve one perpetrator."
"We are still investigating whether we are dealing with one perpetrator or a group of men that are behind the murders of these women," National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said.
However, police acknowledged that the similarities between the cases were "sufficiently concerning" to warrant an intensified, coordinated investigation and a public warning. Investigators are examining victim profiles, the circumstances in which the bodies were discovered and any possible connections between the cases.
A Multidisciplinary Task Team
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane directed the establishment of a dedicated multidisciplinary task team to investigate the cases and determine whether there are links between them.
The team includes detectives from the Murder and Robbery Unit, the Investigative Psychology Unit, forensic experts, intelligence officers, tracking teams, search-and-rescue personnel and K9 units. It is led by Gauteng Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major-General Mbuso Khumalo.
Police have also increased patrols and visibility around Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville, Kwa-Thema and other affected areas.
A Person of Interest
On Tuesday night, police confirmed they were pursuing a person of interest in connection with the murders, though they did not disclose the person's identity or gender, or confirm which of the eight cases they may be linked to.
Acting Police Commissioner Puleng Dimpane said: "Since the discovery, we do have one arrest and one person we are pursuing."
Expert Warns Against Complacency
Former SAPS criminal profiler Elmarie Myburgh told eNCA that the cases should be investigated as a potential serial killer case, warning that police risk falling behind if the cases are not investigated through a coordinated approach.
"If you later find that they are not linked, the investigation still continues and it helps," she said. Myburgh warned that investigating each case in isolation could result in valuable time being lost if evidence later shows the murders are connected.
She noted that the geographical distance between cases should not automatically rule out a connection, as offenders can move between areas.
A Country Grappling with Femicide
The killings have reignited anger over South Africa's persistent gender-based violence and femicide crisis. Femicide rates in the country are among the highest in the world, according to the United Nations' agency for gender equality.
Between April and July 2026, South Africa recorded 5,427 murders—an average of about 45 per day. A 2022 study found that more than 35 percent of South African adult women had experienced physical or sexual violence at some point.
The Commission for Gender Equality has called for urgent preventive action, including a safety audit of the affected areas involving police, municipal officials, transport authorities and community safety structures. "Women should not have to be killed before an area receives heightened attention," commission spokesperson Javu Baloyi said.
A Community on Edge
For women living in the affected communities, the deaths have changed how they move through their neighbourhoods. Siyamthanda Msomi, a Rhodesfield resident, said she had become increasingly frightened about travelling to work in the mornings and no longer felt comfortable walking or skating alone.
"It's very nerve-wracking because it's completely dangerous in this field," she said. "I don't like walking alone anymore. It's terrifying to me."
Some activists have objected to police advice urging women to avoid jogging alone or entering isolated areas, arguing that it places the burden of preventing violence on potential victims rather than offenders.
Police Appeal for Information
Police have appealed to residents, motorists, security companies and businesses to preserve and submit CCTV, dashcam or automatic number-plate recognition footage. Authorities said even apparently insignificant information—such as an unfamiliar vehicle, unusual roadside activity, or someone seen with one of the victims—could help investigators reconstruct their final movements.
Anyone with information can contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249 or provide information anonymously through the MySAPS app.
Police have also warned the public not to spread unverified claims, after a social media message alleging that a suspect had relocated to Potchefstroom was found to have no official basis.
The Investigation Continues
As the multidisciplinary team works to determine whether the deaths are connected, the families of the victims await answers. For the communities of Ekurhuleni, the fear is immediate and personal. Whether the killings are the work of one perpetrator or many, the outcome is the same: eight women are dead and the hunt for those responsible is still underway.
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