South African police on Thursday recovered the body of a ninth woman east of Johannesburg, as a string of deaths continued to raise concern and prompted the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg to issue a safety advisory to Nigerians living in the affected areas.
Police have imposed a lockdown in Kempton Park in the Ekurhuleni municipality and mounted roadblocks after three partially naked bodies were found this week.
“We cannot continue picking up bodies,” the Deputy Police Chief, Tebello Mosikili, told journalists in Dawn Park, where the latest body was found by the roadside.
Police offered a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the killer or killers, while South Africa’s Democratic Alliance offered a further $31,000.
Mosikili said investigators would determine whether Thursday’s discovery was linked to the earlier murders or whether they were dealing with a copycat.
The Nigerian Consulate-General, in a safety advisory dated September 16, said the deaths of eight women had been reported over approximately two months in and around Ekurhuleni and were being investigated by the South African Police Service.
The mission said a multidisciplinary investigation team comprising specialised law-enforcement resources had been deployed following the deaths.
It said investigators had identified “concerning similarities” in some of the cases and were examining whether the incidents were connected.
However, the consulate stressed that the SAPS had not established that the deaths were committed by a single perpetrator or confirmed the involvement of a serial killer.
The latest discovery therefore brings the number of bodies recovered in the wider series to nine, although police are still investigating whether the cases are connected.
One of the victims, 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, left her eight-year-old daughter at home to go jogging but never returned. Her body was found on September 12 behind a hotel.
Her disappearance attracted public attention after fellow runners launched a social media campaign to find her, drawing renewed attention to earlier cases and the subsequent discovery of more bodies.
The first victim, a 37-year-old woman, was found naked and bound with cable ties on July 15. Police said a suspect was arrested two days later and appeared in court on Wednesday. Mosikili said the suspect was a foreigner but did not disclose his nationality.
A 32-year-old woman was found partially clothed on August 24, while another woman was discovered naked and in an advanced state of decomposition on September 10.
The consulate urged Nigerians, particularly women and girls living, working, studying, exercising, socialising or regularly travelling through Kempton Park, Rhodesfield and surrounding areas of Ekurhuleni, to exercise heightened vigilance.
It advised Nigerians to avoid walking, jogging or exercising alone in isolated, poorly lit, deserted or unfamiliar areas, including open fields and secluded pathways.
The mission also urged residents to travel and exercise in groups where possible, vary their routes and times, remain alert to their surroundings and avoid prolonged use of headphones or mobile phones in areas with limited visibility or pedestrian activity.
It further advised Nigerians to inform family members, friends or other trusted persons of their destinations, routes and expected times of return.
The consulate cautioned against circulating unverified photographs, names, videos, voice notes or allegations identifying purported suspects or linking unrelated incidents, warning that such actions could prejudice investigations and harm innocent persons.
The mission said its advisory was not intended to create panic or restrict the lawful movement of Nigerians but to ensure that members of the community were informed and could take reasonable precautions while investigations continued.
It also stressed that the safety measures should not be seen as placing the burden of preventing violence on women or as a substitute for effective policing, investigation and accountability.
The consulate said the broader crime situation in Gauteng was also a concern.
It cited the latest SAPS quarterly crime statistics, which recorded 1,223 murders, 2,369 sexual offences and 39,094 contact crimes against persons in the province between January and March 2026.
It, however, noted that the statistics did not establish any connection between the eight deaths and any particular crime pattern.
Gender-based violence remains a major concern in South Africa, where the United Nations estimates that one in three women experiences physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.
The consulate expressed condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and urged anyone with credible information that could assist the investigation to report directly to the SAPS rather than disseminating it on social media.
It said it would continue to monitor developments and liaise with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and relevant South African authorities.
For Nigerians directly affected by a serious incident, the consulate provided its community line, +27627642412, and email address, [email protected].
The PUNCH had earlier reported outrage among Nigerians following the separate killings of two Nigerian nationals, Bishop Michael Fakunle and James Nwankwo, in South Africa, amid concerns over the South African government’s response to the incidents.
When contacted again on Thursday, the Consul-General of Nigeria in South Africa, Prof Bobby Moroe, said he could not comment until the investigations were concluded.
He wrote, “Greetings, I cannot comment until the investigations are concluded.”
