DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
★ SPECIAL PRINT EDITION ★
SECTION: WORLD
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa Vows Justice as More Women's Bodies Found Near Johannesburg

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa Vows Justice as More Women's Bodies Found Near Johannesburg

Sep 16, 2026 - 00:39
South African president vows justice as more women's bodies found near Johannesburg
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Key Highlights

  • Seven women have been found dead in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.
  • President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that no stone will be left unturned to find those behind the killings.
  • The rate at which women are killed in South Africa is five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that no stone will be left unturned to find those behind the killings. • Police officers officers are investigating the possibility of a group being behind the killings. • The rate at which women are killed in South Africa is five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women.

Commission Gender Equality Has Urged

• The Commission for Gender Equality has urged residents of Kempton Park to work with the police officers officers to find the perpetrators. • Police officers officers have asked women in the area to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity.

Key Background and Context

Elizabeth Moselakgomo's body was found on Saturday three days after she went missing during a routine jog South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that "no stone will be left unturned" in finding those behind the killings of several women in and around the town of Kempton Park, north-east of Johannesburg, over the last two months. Another body was discovered on Tuesday morning and police say their investigation now includes the deaths of seven women most of whom have been found either partially or fully naked.

"These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women," the president said. Police say they are not linking the deaths to a serial killer at this stage. However, are investigating the possibility that a group of people is behind the killings.

"[It] could be that it's a copycat crime that is happening right here but so far, no linkages as yet," police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said. One arrest has been made in connection with the discovery of the first body. The person is still in police custody.

So far only two of the seven women have been identified. South Africa calls gender violence a national disaster after protests I built this 'AI aunt' for women after family tragedy in South Africa On Monday. Police said that one of them was Elizabeth Moselakgomo.

A runner whose disappearance last week sparked a frantic and public search for her. President Ramaphosa said he had directed that the cases be prioritised: "Our law enforcement agencies are working urgently to establish the facts, keep communities safe and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice." South Africa experiences some of the world's highest levels of gender-based violence (GBV), with the rate at which women are killed five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women.

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The discoveries of the bodies have sparked outrage and fear across the country. With many criticising the authorities for failing to adequately protect women. Moselakgomo was identified It was the 38-year-old's young daughter who raised the alarm about her disappearance after she failed to return from her daily run last Wednesday.

The body of the first woman was found in mid-July. The second in late August - the others were discovered this month, two in the last two days.

On Tuesday, police said that the body of woman found on 7 September in a town near "After noticing that there are bodies being picked up, we went back to our police stations… and unfortunately it came to light that a body of a female in her late 20s was observed in a river next to a mall," Maj-Gen Fred Kekana, acting police chief for Gauteng province, said at a briefing. Police have urged women in the Kempton Park area - which is South Africa's Commission for Gender Equality urged residents of Kempton Park to work with the police to find the perpetrators.

"These deaths are indicative that women in South Africa continue to face environments in which their ordinary freedom of movement can become a matter of life and death," it said. "Women should be able to run, walk to work, use public transport, return home, visit friends and participate in community life without having to calculate whether an ordinary activity could place their lives at risk." 'They came with machetes' - deadline looms for migrants to leave South Africa Evidence that South African special forces murdered top detective shared with BBC I left my wife and twins behind - why this Nigerian man fled South Africa South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed that "no stone will be left unturned" in finding those behind the killings of several women in and around the town of Kempton Park, north-east of Johannesburg, over the last two months.

Another body was discovered on Tuesday morning and police say their investigation now includes the deaths of seven women most of whom have been found either partially or fully naked. "These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women," the president said.

Police say they are not linking the deaths to a serial killer at this stage. However, are investigating the possibility that a group of people is behind the killings. "[It] could be that it's a copycat crime that is happening right here but so far, no linkages as yet," police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said.

One arrest has been made in connection with the discovery of the first body. The person is still in police custody. So far only two of the seven women have been identified.

South Africa calls gender violence a national disaster after protests I built this 'AI aunt' for women after family tragedy in South Africa On Monday. Police said that one of them was Elizabeth Moselakgomo. A runner whose disappearance last week sparked a frantic and public search for her.

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President Ramaphosa said he had directed that the cases be prioritised: "Our law enforcement agencies are working urgently to establish the facts, keep communities safe and bring the perpetrator or perpetrators to justice." South Africa experiences some of the world's highest levels of gender-based violence (GBV), with the rate at which women are killed five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women. The discoveries of the bodies have sparked outrage and fear across the country.

With many criticising the authorities for failing to adequately protect women. Moselakgomo was identified It was the 38-year-old's young daughter who raised the alarm about her disappearance after she failed to return from her daily run last Wednesday. The body of the first woman was found in mid-July.

The second in late August - the others were discovered this month, two in the last two days. On Tuesday, police said that the body of woman found on 7 September in a town near "After noticing that there are bodies being picked up, we went back to our police stations… and unfortunately it came to light that a body of a female in her late 20s was observed in a river next to a mall," Maj-Gen Fred Kekana, acting police chief for Gauteng province, said at a briefing.

Police have urged women in the Kempton Park area - which is South Africa's Commission for Gender Equality urged residents of Kempton Park to work with the police to find the perpetrators. "These deaths are indicative that women in South Africa continue to face environments in which their ordinary freedom of movement can become a matter of life and death," it said.

"Women should be able to run, walk to work, use public transport, return home, visit friends and participate in community life without having to calculate whether an ordinary activity could place their lives at risk." 'They came with machetes' - deadline looms for migrants to leave South Africa Evidence that South African special forces murdered top detective shared with BBC I left my wife and twins behind - why this Nigerian man fled South Africa.

Frequently Asked Questions

Police say they are investigating the possibility that a group of people is behind the killings, but so far, no linkages as yet.

Seven women have been found dead in Kempton Park, Johannesburg.

The rate at which women are killed in South Africa is five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women.

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