Women told not to walk alone as Kempton Park murders spark fear

The search for missing runner Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo concluded in tragedy on Monday when her family confirmed that the body discovered in Kempton Park was hers. Moselakgomo, 38, had gone for her regular run on September 9 and failed to return home, prompting a desperate search by her loved ones. The family located the body at the state mortuary after identifying it.

Her uncle, Lieutenant Colonel Andries Matlaila, stated that the family was now awaiting the completion of the post-mortem and other necessary procedures before her body could be released to her family. Moselakgomo's eight-year-old daughter was the first to inform the family that her mother had not returned from her run. The family described her as a family-oriented, church-going woman who also sang in the Zion Christian Church choir.

The identification of Moselakgomo's body occurred amidst an intensified police investigation into the deaths of five women in the area over the past two months. National police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe revealed that four women whose bodies were found in Kempton Park and Rhodesfield exhibited concerning circumstances, such as being partially undressed and showing visible bruises.

A fifth woman was reportedly found with cable ties. While police have not confirmed that the deaths are linked to a serial killer, the similarities between some cases have prompted SAPS to intensify its investigation. Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane has directed a multidisciplinary team, comprising detectives from specialized units, to investigate the cases thoroughly.

Police have warned women, particularly those in and around Kempton Park and Rhodesfield, to avoid exercising alone in isolated areas and have urged women to remain vigilant and consider exercising or traveling in groups. Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga called for stronger measures to protect women exercising in public spaces, emphasizing that no woman should have to choose between their safety and their health.