The discovery of nine women’s bodies across the wider Ekurhuleni area, including Kempton Park and surrounding communities, has left many of us frightened, angry and heartbroken.
Nine women.
Nine lives.
Nine families now living with unbearable loss and unanswered questions.
These women were not simply numbers in a news report. They were daughters, mothers, sisters, friends and members of our communities. They had families, plans, routines and people waiting for them to come home.
As women, we are already accustomed to checking behind us, sharing our locations and holding our keys tightly when walking to our cars. These killings have made that everyday fear feel even heavier.
What We Know So Far
As of 17 September 2026, nine women’s bodies have reportedly been discovered across the wider Ekurhuleni area.
The investigation initially focused on four women whose bodies were found over approximately two months in the Kempton Park and Rhodesfield area. Further discoveries in Kempton Park and surrounding Ekurhuleni communities increased the reported number to nine.
Several victims were found in circumstances that police described as having concerning similarities.
Police have established a specialised multidisciplinary task team involving detectives from the Murder and Robbery Unit, Investigative Psychology Unit and other relevant divisions.
Police are investigating whether the cases may be connected. However, they have not officially confirmed that one serial killer is responsible.
We must therefore avoid presenting rumours or speculation as facts while the investigation continues.
This is a rapidly developing case. Information may change as victims are identified, forensic evidence is examined and police determine whether the deaths are connected.
Read the latest report confirming the ninth body
Read the original SAPS statement about the Kempton Park investigation
These Killings Are Not the Victims’ Fault
Whenever violence like this happens, women are immediately told:
Don’t walk alone.
Don’t run early in the morning.
Don’t go out at night.
Don’t use headphones.
Don’t trust strangers.
Don’t wear certain clothing.
Safety precautions may reduce certain risks, but we need to say this clearly:
Women are not responsible for the violence committed against them.
A woman should be able to go running, travel to work, use public transport, visit friends or walk home without becoming a target.
The responsibility belongs to the people committing these crimes.
Government, law enforcement, municipalities and communities also have a responsibility to create safer public spaces and bring those responsible to justice.
Practical Safety Steps We Can Take Right Now
These suggestions are not guarantees, and they are not intended to blame anyone who becomes a victim.
They are practical ways we can support one another while the investigation continues.
1. Tell Someone Where You Are Going
Before leaving home, tell someone you trust:
Where you are going
Who you are meeting
How you are travelling
What time you expect to arrive
When you plan to return
If your plans change, send a quick update.
2. Share Your Live Location
Use WhatsApp or your phone’s location-sharing feature when travelling, walking or running.
Agree on a simple check-in message such as:
“I’m leaving now. I’ll message you when I arrive.”
If the message does not arrive at the expected time, the person knows to check on you.
3. Create a Family Safety Word
Choose a private safety word that only your family or trusted friends know.
If you ever call or message using that word, they will understand that you need help—even if you cannot explain what is happening.
Do not post or share your safety word publicly.
4. Walk or Exercise With Someone Where Possible
SAPS has urged women in and around Kempton Park, particularly the Rhodesfield area, to avoid walking or running alone in isolated places while the investigation continues.
Consider:
Walking or running with a friend
Joining a local exercise group
Choosing busy, well-lit routes
Avoiding isolated open spaces
Changing predictable routes and times
Sharing your location before leaving
This does not mean women should have to stop exercising or living their lives. It means staying connected while there is increased concern in the community.
5. Stay Alert Around Your Vehicle
Before approaching your car:
Have your keys ready.
Look around the vehicle.
Check the back seat before getting inside.
Lock the doors immediately.
Avoid sitting in a parked car while distracted by your phone.
Do not go home if you believe someone is following you.
Drive to a police station, security point, petrol station or another busy public place if you feel you are being followed.
6. Be Careful With Lifts and New Acquaintances
Before accepting a lift, send someone:
The driver’s name
The vehicle registration
Your destination
Your expected arrival time
When using an e-hailing service:
Confirm the vehicle and registration.
Check that the driver matches the profile.
Ask who they are collecting before giving your name.
Sit in the back.
Share the trip through the app.
Cancel if the vehicle or driver details do not match.
You do not owe anyone politeness when your safety feels threatened.
7. Trust Your Instincts
We are sometimes taught to ignore discomfort because we do not want to appear rude, paranoid or dramatic.
If a person, vehicle or situation makes you uncomfortable:
Leave immediately.
Enter a shop or busy public space.
Phone someone you trust.
Ask a security officer for help.
Draw attention to yourself if necessary.
It is better to feel embarrassed for five minutes than to remain in a situation that feels unsafe.
8. Look Out for Other Women
Community safety is not only about protecting ourselves.
If you see a woman who appears frightened, followed or uncomfortable, ask:
“Are you okay? Would you like me to stay with you?”
Shop owners, security officers, motorists and residents should report suspicious behaviour instead of assuming somebody else will do it.
What We Should Not Share Online
Please do not share:
Graphic photographs
Images of victims’ bodies
Unconfirmed names
Voice notes presented as facts
Photographs of people accused without evidence
False reports of additional bodies
Unverified claims about a serial killer
Information that could compromise the investigation
Sharing graphic material causes further trauma to families and treats a victim’s final moments as public content.
Before forwarding something, ask:
Is it verified?
Is it helpful?
Could it harm a victim’s family or interfere with the investigation?
Emergency and Reporting Information
If you are in immediate danger:
Call SAPS on 10111
Call 112 from a mobile phone
Move toward a busy, well-lit place if it is safe to do so
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation can contact:
Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike: 082 465 7249
Submit information anonymously through the MySAPS App
Residents, motorists, security personnel and community members who noticed suspicious activity in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park or surrounding areas are encouraged to come forward.
For gender-based violence support:
GBV Command Centre: 0800 428 428
Dial 1207867# to request assistance
We Need More Than Safety Tips
Women cannot solve violence against women simply by becoming more careful.
We need:
Visible policing in high-risk areas
Proper investigation of missing-person reports
Working streetlights
Cleared and maintained public spaces
Safer public transport
Community safety audits
Support for victims’ families
Better monitoring of known dangerous areas
Men willing to challenge violent behaviour
Swift consequences for perpetrators
The Commission for Gender Equality has called for urgent safety audits in affected areas involving SAPS, the municipality, transport authorities and community safety organisations.
Women should not have to disappear or die before dangerous areas receive attention.
Read the Commission for Gender Equality’s call for urgent safety measures
Questions for Our Community
Do you currently feel safe walking or driving alone in your neighbourhood?
Which areas around Kempton Park or Ekurhuleni make you feel unsafe?
Does your family have a location-sharing system?
Do you have a family safety word?
Are the streets and public spaces near your home properly lit?
Would you join a local women’s walking or running group?
Is your local Community Policing Forum active?
What practical change would make you feel safer immediately?
Are businesses and security officers in your area willing to assist someone who feels threatened?
Please share helpful information without naming suspects, spreading rumours or posting graphic material.
This Week’s Community Safety Challenge
Take 15 minutes with your family or someone you trust and complete these five steps:
Choose a private family safety word.
Save the emergency numbers on everyone’s phones.
Practise sharing a live location.
Decide who should be contacted if someone does not arrive.
Identify two safe public places near your regular routes.
It may feel like a small action, but having a plan can prevent confusion during an emergency.
A Final Word
To every woman who feels frightened right now: your fear is understandable.
Be alert. Stay connected. Trust your instincts and look out for the women around you.
But do not allow anyone to suggest that these nine women died because women were not careful enough.
We deserve more than instructions on how to avoid being harmed.
We deserve streets, parks, workplaces and communities in which women can live freely and safely.
To the families and loved ones of the nine women whose bodies have been discovered: your loved ones matter.
They are more than statistics.
They will not be forgotten.
Nine women. Nine lives. Every woman deserves to come home safely.
