Acting National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane has detailed the eight women’s murder cases now under investigation across Ekurhuleni, as the South African Police Service widens its probe into the killings.

Police are examining five cases in Kempton Park, two in Olifantsfontein and one in KwaThema.

The cases span July to September, with investigators also reviewing earlier dockets to make sure no potentially linked deaths were missed.

SAPS has not confirmed that all eight murders are connected or that one perpetrator is responsible.

1. Kempton Park – 15 July

Police recorded the first case on 15 July.

A 37-year-old woman was found near the R21. Police arrested a suspect two days later and have positively linked him to that murder.

SAPS has not linked the suspect to the other cases.

2. Kempton Park – August

Dimpane said police recorded the second case in Kempton Park during August.

Investigators have included the case in the wider review as they compare evidence, locations and victim profiles.

3. Kempton Park – August

A third Kempton Park case followed during August, according to Dimpane’s breakdown on Tuesday night.

Police are examining that case alongside the others for possible similarities.

4. Kempton Park – September

The fourth case occurred in Kempton Park during September.

The growing cluster of deaths eventually prompted SAPS to bring together detectives, forensic specialists, crime intelligence and other specialised units.

5. Kempton Park – September

Police recorded another Kempton Park case in September, taking the number under investigation in the area to five.

Among the women identified during the broader investigation is Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, who disappeared after leaving her Rhodesfield home for a run.

Her family later formally identified her body at the Germiston mortuary.

6. Olifantsfontein – 14 September

Police found another woman dead in Olifantsfontein on Monday, 14 September.

The discovery widened the investigation beyond the Kempton Park cases and triggered further deployments across Ekurhuleni.

7. KwaThema – 15 September

Officers found another woman dead in KwaThema, Springs, on Tuesday morning, 15 September.

Her decomposed body was discovered on the side of the road.

KwaThema lies about 45km from Kempton Park, where the investigation initially centred. Police have been examining whether there are any forensic or investigative links between the cases.

8. Olifantsfontein – 7 September

Dimpane said police later added another Olifantsfontein case dating back to 7 September after reviewing cases that may be relevant to the investigation.

She acknowledged that police may have missed the case when initially compiling the running total.

The woman was found floating in a river near the Mall of Thembisa area.

Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Maj-Gen Fred Kekana earlier said police had found no visible injuries on the woman but would not exclude the death until investigators completed further work. Public reporting has placed the river discovery in Clayville, near the Mall of Thembisa.

One suspect arrested, another sought

Dimpane also confirmed that police have one suspect in custody and are pursuing another person as investigators follow leads.

The arrested suspect relates to the first Kempton Park murder from July.

Police have not said the suspect is responsible for the other women’s deaths.

SAPS continues to examine whether investigators are dealing with one perpetrator, multiple perpetrators or separate crimes.

R400 000 reward on offer

Police have now offered a R400 000 reward for information that could help investigators make a breakthrough.

“There is R400 000 that we are putting on the table so that we are able to strengthen our investigations,” Dimpane said during Tuesday night’s high-level briefing.

EKURHULENI KILLINGS | Acting National Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Puleng Dimpane says a suspect has been arrested in connection with one of the murders committed in July, while police are pursuing another person of interest. A R400,000 reward has been offered for information that… pic.twitter.com/SQiqlNWHI6

— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 15, 2026

She also appealed to families with missing loved ones to contact police as forensic teams work with pathologists to identify women who remain unknown.

Lesufi: ‘We can’t normalise madness’

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has called for urgent action as concern grows across the province.

“We can’t normalise madness; this is madness,” Lesufi said after visiting the Kempton Park area earlier in the investigation.

He also urged residents to report anything they may have seen around the discovery sites, stressing that information that appears insignificant could prove crucial to investigators.

Lesufi said women could not continue living in fear of going about their daily lives and pledged provincial resources to support efforts to improve safety.

Police intensify Ekurhuleni operation

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirmed on Tuesday night that the investigation now involves the murders of eight women.

SAPS has established a high-level multidisciplinary team and plans to significantly increase police visibility in Kempton Park and surrounding areas.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has also directed law-enforcement agencies to prioritise the investigation and ordered police to leave “no stone unturned” in bringing those responsible to justice.

For now, investigators continue to treat the evidence as decisive: eight murders are under scrutiny, but police have not yet proved that all eight form part of one pattern.