The bodies of eight women have been discovered near an international airport in South Africa, fueling fears that the deaths may be the work of a serial killer. The South African Police Service (SAPS) warned in a statement on Monday that women in the area should not “walk or run alone, particularly in isolated areas.” It added that women should “avoid secluded spaces, remain vigilant and, where possible, travel or exercise in groups.” It came after four dead women were discovered across Ekurhuleni, a metropolitan area east of the city of Johannesburg that includes O.R. Tambo International Airport - the region’s main international gateway.
The women “were found half-naked and with visible bruising,” police said. Since then, four more bodies have been uncovered in the area, bringing the total to eight. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said investigators have not “at this stage” concluded the “deaths are linked to a serial killer,” but she added that “the similarities are sufficiently concerning for the police to issue a public warning and intensify investigations.” Only two of the women have been publicly identified: Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, and Itumeleng Kekana, 32.
Police said forensic work to identify the other six remained underway, according to the South African outlet Eyewitness News. Moselakgomo disappeared after leaving her Rhodesfield home for a run on September 9. Her body was found on September 12 and identified by her family two days later.
Kekana, the mother of a 14-year-old daughter, was reported missing on July 17 before her body was discovered with multiple stab wounds near Great North Road in Pomona on August 3—Mathe confirmed that her death was included in the wider investigation. South Africa has long struggled with high levels of gender-based violence—a crisis the government classified as a national disaster in 2025. But the discovery of eight bodies in one metropolitan area over just two months has drawn international attention.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered police to prioritize the investigations. Newsweek contacted SAPS and the U.S. State Department on Wednesday for comment.
Police are investigating five deaths in Kempton Park, two in Olifantsfontein and one in KwaThema. Authorities have not established that all eight cases are connected or that a single perpetrator was responsible. The body of an unidentified 37-year-old woman was found naked and restrained with cable ties in an open field near the R21 highway.
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