Ninth Body Discovered, Sparking Fear of Serial Killer in Johannesburg

WHO:

NPR - Elizabeth Mokolo Moselakgomo, 38, left for an afternoon run on September 9 and was found dead three days later.

NPR - Dineo Motapane is one of the nine recent victims whose deaths have left a nation traumatized.

CNN - Sabrina Walter, founder of Women For Change, stated, “Women here have been changing how we live for years just to survive.”

CNN - President Cyril Ramaphosa instructed police to prioritize the cases and leave “no stone unturned” in bringing those responsible to justice.

CNN - Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old manager and mother, was one of the victims whose body was found after she went out for a jog.

CNN - Lebogang Kgari, a finance manager, expressed that the recent killings have made her feel "unsafe, anxious and highly terrified to go on runs."

NPR - Shenilla Mohamed, Amnesty International's South Africa Director, stated, "Women in South Africa continue to be hunted and denied the most basic right to life and security."

NPR - Shari Maluluke, a 26-year-old runner, expressed, "It just makes me angry that I can't move freely, my whole country feels like a prison."

CNN - Sabrina Walter, founder of Women For Change, a South African nonprofit.

CNN - President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa.

CNN - Lebogang Kgari, a finance manager.

CNN - Naeemah Abrahams, a leading femicide researcher at the South African Medical Research Council.

WHAT:

BBC - The recent discoveries of murdered women have sparked fear in South Africa, highlighting the level of violence against women.

The Washington Post - The body of Elizabeth Moselakgomo was discovered half naked and bruised, igniting outrage in South Africa.

CNN - Police have warned women in and around Kempton Park to avoid running or walking alone in isolated areas and to go out in groups as a precaution during the investigation.

CNN - The latest body was found in the space of just two months, raising fears in a country already facing dire levels of violence against women.

CNN - The body of Elizabeth Moselakgomo was found five days after she went missing, with her face so badly beaten that it was unrecognizable.

CNN - Police have warned women to be "vigilant" and not to walk or run alone, which has drawn backlash from women who feel the responsibility should not fall on them.

NPR - The majority of the nine women found slain were sexually assaulted.

NPR - Police statistics indicate that over 100 rape cases are reported and approximately 15 women are killed daily in South Africa.

CNN - The body of a ninth woman was found in Johannesburg, raising fears of a potential serial killer.

CNN - Police have increased patrols and deployed more officers in affected areas.

CNN - A 2024 national study estimated that nearly seven women were killed every day in South Africa in 2020/21.

CNN - The study found that 60% of women were killed by an intimate partner and that South Africa’s intimate-partner femicide rate was five times the global rate.

CNN - In November 2025, authorities classified gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster.

WHERE:

NPR - Protests have occurred in Kempton Park and Cape Town.

CNN - The latest body was found in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni, a region of Johannesburg.

CNN - Several bodies were found in and around Kempton Park.

WHEN:

CNN - The latest body was found on a Thursday morning.

CNN - The study referenced was conducted in 2020/21.

CNN - The classification of gender-based violence and femicide as a national disaster occurred in November 2025.

WHY:

NPR - Didi Tsitsi attributed the high rates of femicide to "failure of government and policing" and societal issues stemming from the legacies of apartheid.

NPR - Shenilla Mohamed, Amnesty International's South Africa Director, stated, "Women are tired of platitudes. We want to know what is going to be done to make women and children feel safe."

NPR - Didi Tsitsi attributed the high rates of femicide to "failure of government and policing" and societal issues stemming from the legacies of apartheid.

CNN - Naeemah Abrahams stated that every killing of a woman should trigger a serious investigation, not just those that are part of a cluster.

NPR - Didi Tsitsi, a 31-year-old woman, attributed the high rates of femicide to "failure of government and policing" and societal issues stemming from the legacies of apartheid.

CNN - The killings are causing “fear and uncertainty,” particularly among women, according to President Ramaphosa.

CNN - Naeemah Abrahams stated that the Ekurhuleni cases highlight a broader issue of femicide in South Africa.

HOW:

NPR - Local running clubs have been holding runs in honor of Elizabeth Moselakgomo and other victims, with participants dressed in black and observing a minute's silence.

NPR - Local running clubs across the country have been holding runs in honor of Elizabeth Moselakgomo and other victims, with participants dressed in black and observing a minute's silence.

CNN - Local running clubs have been holding runs in honor of Elizabeth Moselakgomo and other victims, with participants dressed in black and observing a minute's silence.

NPR - Local running clubs across the country have been holding runs in honor of Elizabeth Moselakgomo and other victims, with participants dressed in black and observing a minute's silence.

CNN - Police advised women to avoid running or walking alone in isolated areas and to go out in groups as a precaution during the investigation.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 12:58 UTC)

The recent discovery of murdered women, including the tragic case of Elizabeth Mokolo Moselakgomo, has ignited outrage and fear across South Africa, as her body was found half naked and bruised just days after she went for a run. This wave of violence has left the nation traumatized, with Dineo Motapane being one of the nine recent victims, prompting local running clubs to hold memorial runs in their honor, where participants dress in black and observe a minute's silence. Activist Didi Tsitsi has pointed to a "failure of government and policing" and the lingering societal issues from apartheid as contributing factors to the alarming rates of femicide in the country.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 07:03 UTC)

In response to rising violence against women, President Cyril Ramaphosa has instructed police to prioritize investigations and ensure that no stone is left unturned in bringing those responsible to justice. As a precaution, authorities are warning women in Kempton Park to avoid walking or running alone in isolated areas, while local running clubs are holding memorial runs in honor of victims like Elizabeth Moselakgomo. Activists, including Shenilla Mohamed from Amnesty International, emphasize the urgent need for concrete actions to ensure the safety of women and children, pointing to systemic failures in government and policing as contributing factors to the crisis.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 01:18 UTC)

The tragic discovery of Elizabeth Moselakgomo's body, found five days after she went missing, has sent shockwaves through the community, as her face was so badly beaten that it was unrecognizable. In response to the recent killings, police have advised women to remain vigilant and avoid running or walking alone, a suggestion that has sparked backlash from many who believe the responsibility should not rest solely on women. Local running clubs are now honoring Elizabeth and other victims by holding runs where participants wear black and observe a minute's silence to pay their respects.

(UPDATED September 18, 2026 19:01 UTC)

In South Africa, the tragic reality of femicide has come to the forefront, with Amnesty International's South Africa Director, Shenilla Mohamed, stating that women continue to be hunted and denied their basic rights to life and security. Protests have erupted in cities like Kempton Park and Cape Town, as local running clubs hold memorial runs in honor of victims, including Elizabeth Moselakgomo, with participants dressed in black and observing a minute's silence. Amidst alarming police statistics revealing that over 100 rape cases are reported and approximately 15 women are killed daily, many, like 26-year-old runner Shari Maluluke, express their anger at feeling imprisoned in their own country.

(UPDATED September 18, 2026 14:01 UTC)

In a troubling development, the body of a ninth woman has been discovered in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni, raising fears of a potential serial killer in Johannesburg. President Cyril Ramaphosa has acknowledged the growing "fear and uncertainty" among women, while femicide researcher Naeemah Abrahams emphasizes that these cases underscore a wider issue of femicide in South Africa, where a national study found that nearly seven women were killed every day in 2020 and 2021. In response to the escalating violence, police have increased patrols and are advising women to avoid walking alone in isolated areas, urging them to go out in groups for safety.