EKURHULENI, SOUTH AFRICA — Fear and outrage have gripped the East Rand after the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in Dawn Park, Boksburg, on Thursday morning, 17 September 2026.
The grim find marks a terrifying escalation in a suspected string of murders that has terrorised the regional community over the past two months.
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According to Gauteng Acting Provincial Commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana, preliminary crime scene assessments strongly indicate that the deceased was killed elsewhere before her body was dumped in an open space on Lama Street.
Passersby discovered the victim, estimated to be approximately 30 years old, semi-naked and tightly wrapped in a sheet.
Forensic pathology and specialized detective units quickly cordoned off the area to hunt for physical clues. Authorities have yet to establish the woman’s identity or verify if she matches any recently logged missing persons profiles.
This latest tragedy brings the total number of women found murdered across the broader Ekurhuleni municipality to nine since July. The geographic pattern of these violent acts has kept local communities on edge.
Similar cases, where victims were left partially or fully unclothed in isolated terrain or near roadways, have been thoroughly documented in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville, and KwaThema.
Just a day prior, the eighth victim was identified by her family as 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, whose body was discovered on the side of a road in Springs.
Another identified victim was Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old local runner who disappeared during an afternoon jog before her remains were located near a Rhodesfield hotel.
The terrifying frequency of the dumpings has ignited widespread panic and public debate over whether a single serial killer or an organised criminal syndicate is hunting women in Gauteng.
While independent criminal profilers have urged SAPS to treat the pattern as a serial investigation, top police officials remain cautious.
Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stated that authorities are keeping an open mind, exploring all possibilities, including potential copycat perpetrators.
The spike in local femicide has drawn severe condemnation from advocacy groups like Women for Change and government leaders alike.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently directed law enforcement authorities to prioritize the ongoing murder investigations, declaring that “no stone will be left unturned” to secure justice.
In a bid to break the deadlock, Acting Minister of Police Feroz Cachalia and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi announced an expanded multidisciplinary task force and put forward a combined reward of R400,000 for any information leading to an arrest and successful conviction.
As fear mounts, Major-General Kekana has urged local women to take strict safety precautions.
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Citizens are advised to travel in groups, stay on well-lit main routes, and avoid walking or jogging alone in secluded or isolated fields.
Anyone possessing information regarding suspicious vehicular or pedestrian movements in Dawn Park is requested to immediately contact Crime Stop or use the anonymous MySAPS mobile application.
