Gauteng police confirm woman’s body discovered in Tembisa
Gauteng police confirm woman’s body discovered in Tembisa as investigators widen a specialised probe into the deaths of women whose bodies have been found in Gauteng in recent months.
Police said the latest body was discovered in a river in Clayville, Tembisa, next to Tembisa Mall. The woman is believed to have been in her late 20s.
The discovery brings the number of women’s bodies being considered as part of the wider investigation to seven.
Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana confirmed that the Clayville case had been added to the investigation after police reviewed cases involving other women whose bodies had been discovered in the region.
Kekana said the woman was found without clothing but was still wearing her underwear. Police have cautioned against speculation about how her clothing may have been removed.
The circumstances surrounding her death remain under investigation.
Tembisa woman’s body added to specialised investigation
The Tembisa woman’s body was discovered on September 7, according to information provided by police.
Kekana said investigators became aware that the Clayville case needed to be considered alongside the other cases after reviewing the growing number of deaths.
The decision to include the case means detectives will examine available evidence to determine whether there are similarities between the Clayville death and the other incidents.
Police have not confirmed that all seven deaths were committed by the same person.
Instead, investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding each death before reaching conclusions about possible connections.
This approach is important because the discovery of multiple bodies in the same broader geographical area does not automatically establish that the deaths have a common perpetrator.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has also urged investigators to work carefully rather than rush to conclusions.
Police are considering different possibilities, including whether there could be one perpetrator, multiple perpetrators or potentially copycat crimes.
Kempton Park women deaths raise concern
The Kempton Park women deaths have caused growing concern among residents, particularly after several women were found dead in open areas around Ekurhuleni.
The cases have attracted significant attention because of similarities reported at some of the scenes, including women being found partially clothed or without clothing.
The first of the cases mentioned in the investigation involved a 37-year-old woman whose body was found near the R21 on July 15.
She was reportedly found without clothing and had been restrained with cable ties. A suspect was arrested two days later and remains in custody.
A second woman, aged 32, was found near the R21 on August 24. She had visible bruising and was partially clothed.
Another unidentified woman was found near Rhodesfield in Kempton Park on September 10. Her body was reportedly in an advanced state of decomposition.
The body of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo was subsequently discovered in Rhodesfield after she disappeared following a routine afternoon run.
Her eight-year-old daughter raised the alarm when she did not return home at her usual time.
Her remains were later positively identified by her family at the Germiston Forensic Pathology Service facility.
A fifth body was later found near Olifantsfontein, adding to the growing number of cases being examined by investigators.
KwaThema woman found dead adds another case
The KwaThema woman found dead in Springs has also become part of the wider concern surrounding the deaths.
Her body was discovered on the side of a road in KwaThema, approximately 45 kilometres from Kempton Park.
Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Kekana said a preliminary assessment by a pathologist indicated that the woman appeared to have been strangled around the neck.
A post-mortem examination was expected to provide further information about the circumstances of her death.
Residents who gathered at the scene expressed fear and concern over the safety of women in the community.
Some residents also raised questions about whether the KwaThema case could be connected to the deaths in and around Kempton Park.
However, police have stressed that investigators have not established such a connection.
The similarities between cases are being examined, but investigators must rely on forensic evidence, witness statements and other information before determining whether the incidents are linked.
Gauteng police investigation continues
The Gauteng police investigation has brought together specialised resources to examine the deaths.
Police are looking at evidence from different crime scenes and are working to establish whether there are common patterns.
The investigation involves detectives and specialised police units that can assist with forensic analysis, tracing suspects and gathering intelligence.
Police have also increased visibility and resources in affected areas amid concerns from residents.
Mathe said investigators were examining whether the deaths could involve one perpetrator or a group of men.
She also raised the possibility of copycat crimes, although there is currently no confirmed evidence establishing that this is the case.
Police have therefore urged the public not to jump to conclusions while detectives continue their work.
The warning is particularly important because speculation about a possible serial killer can create fear and potentially interfere with an ongoing investigation.
Authorities have said their priority is to identify the people responsible and ensure that evidence is properly assessed.
Residents fear for women’s safety
The growing number of cases has increased anxiety among women and residents in parts of Gauteng.
Community members have expressed concern about women walking, exercising or travelling alone, particularly in areas where bodies have been discovered.
The disappearance of Moselakgomo after she went for a run has also heightened fears among people who regularly exercise outdoors.
Residents have called for increased police visibility, faster investigations and stronger measures to prevent further violence against women.
The concerns come against the broader backdrop of gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa.
For communities affected by the latest deaths, however, the immediate priority is establishing what happened to each victim and bringing those responsible to justice.
Police urge patience as evidence is examined
Police have acknowledged the anxiety caused by the deaths but warned against rushing the investigation.
Mathe said detectives needed sufficient time to examine evidence and establish the facts.
She stressed that investigators did not want to arrest the wrong person simply because of public pressure to produce quick results.
The investigation could involve DNA evidence, forensic pathology reports, fingerprints, CCTV footage, cellphone records, witness statements and information gathered from the scenes.
Such evidence could help determine whether there are connections between the cases.
The investigation could also establish whether some of the victims were killed at the locations where their bodies were found or whether their remains were moved.
That distinction could become important as detectives attempt to reconstruct the final movements of each victim.
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Elizabeth Moselakgomo identified as Fourth Kempton Park victim
Gauteng women’s bodies remain focus of probe
The discovery of the Gauteng women’s bodies has placed renewed attention on the safety of women in communities across Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas.
The latest Tembisa discovery has expanded the number of cases being examined by the specialised team.
However, police have not confirmed that all seven deaths are connected.
The Tembisa woman’s body, the KwaThema case and the deaths around Kempton Park will be investigated alongside other available evidence as detectives attempt to identify patterns and possible links.
For now, residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity to authorities.
Police are expected to provide further updates as forensic examinations and investigations progress.
The central question remains whether the deaths represent separate incidents or whether investigators are dealing with a wider pattern.
Until evidence establishes otherwise, police are maintaining an open investigation and avoiding definitive conclusions.
The discovery in Clayville therefore represents another significant development, but it is only through detailed forensic and investigative work that authorities will determine exactly what happened to the woman and whether her death is connected to the other cases.
References from mainstream media
- Reuters – South African police probe killings of seven women, Ramaphosa vows action — reports on the police investigation into seven women’s deaths in Gauteng and the government response. Reuters reference
- Associated Press (AP) – South African police issue alert after seventh woman’s body found near Johannesburg — covers the latest developments in the investigation and concerns surrounding the deaths of women in Gauteng. Associated Press reference
- Eyewitness News (EWN) – Police yet to find evidence linking separate deaths of 4 women in Kempton Park — reports on the police investigation and the lack of confirmed evidence linking the cases. EWN reference
- SABC News – Missing Gauteng woman’s search linked to wider Kempton Park probe — covers the investigation into women’s deaths in Kempton Park and the search for Elizabeth Moselakgomo. SABC News reference
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