Why did it take ‘Tsontso’ to make Ekurhuleni’s women's bodies matter?
The discovery of multiple murdered women in Ekurhuleni highlights the stark inequalities and systemic flaws in how South African authorities and media respond to femicide and missing persons cases.
The families of two women, Dineo Evelyn Motapane and Itumeleng Kekana, are devastated by the circumstances surrounding their deaths. Dineo, 38, was found naked on the side of the road in KwaThema, Springs, while Itumeleng, 32, was discovered near the R21 after she disappeared from Kempton Park. These deaths are part of a series of nine women who have been found dead in Ekurhuleni since July, prompting police to intensify their investigations.
The Motapane family is particularly distressed, as Dineo was left behind with a two-year-old girl after her death. Dineo was last seen on September 13, and her body was found on September 15. The family reported that her phone had been switched off when they went to the mortuary. Dineo's sister, Phelisa, described the shocking injuries she witnessed, including a burnt hand and an unknown operation on her leg.
Itumeleng's family, meanwhile, endured 17 days of searching before they learned of her death. Itumeleng disappeared on July 17 after leaving her sister's spaza shop in Kempton Park. Her brother, Themba, 44, had spoken to her that day. The family conducted a thorough search, visiting police stations, hospitals, clinics, mortuaries, open fields, bushes, and dumping sites.
When Itumeleng's body was found on August 3, she had suffered multiple stab wounds. The family has requested that the police examine CCTV footage near the location where her body was found.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
