SAPS responds to serial killer fears after fifth body found in Kempton Park

Residents of Kempton Park gathered for a protest on Saturday, expressing fears that a serial killer may be targeting women in the area. The South African Police Service (SAPS) had recently issued a warning to women in and around Kempton Park, particularly those in the Rhodesfield region, to exercise extreme caution following the discovery of five women's bodies in the same vicinity over a two-month period.

The latest body was found in Olifantsfontein near Kempton Park on Monday morning, with another discovered on Saturday evening. Preliminary investigations suggest similarities in the circumstances surrounding the deaths, with the victims found half-naked and with visible bruising. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe stated that while the deaths have not yet been confirmed as linked to a serial killer, the similarities are concerning enough for the police to intensify their investigation.

The community has taken notice, with a dedicated multidisciplinary task team established to investigate the cases and determine if the incidents are connected. SAPS appealed to anyone with information related to the investigation, urging residents, motorists, security personnel, and community members to come forward. One of the organizers of the protest, Lumka Maqubela from the Girl2Woman Foundation, expressed frustration with the police, stating that they should have notified the community as soon as the second body was found.

Maqubela emphasized that all five murders seem to have occurred in a sequence, leading to suspicions of a serial killer on the loose. The picket was organized by a coalition of NGOs and faith-based organizations, highlighting the urgent need for the police to address the perceived lack of notification and the potential threat posed by the killer.