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Kempton Park killings: Presidency demands answers as fears of serial killer grow

By Noko Maleka | InsightJoziNews.org
16 September 2026

KEMPTON PARK, GAUTENG — Fear is tightening its grip on communities around Kempton Park as investigators probe a disturbing series of deaths involving women, amid growing public speculation that a serial killer could be operating in the area.

The Presidency has now entered the conversation, with President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for a thorough investigation into the killings and urging law-enforcement authorities to leave no stone unturned.

The intervention comes as residents grapple with a question that has become increasingly difficult to ignore: Are these isolated tragedies, or is there a connection between the cases?

The Presidency said the killings have caused fear and uncertainty, particularly among women.

“These incidents are causing fear and uncertainty in our communities, and especially among women,” Ramaphosa said.

The President's comments come against the backdrop of several bodies being discovered in and around Kempton Park and other parts of Ekurhuleni.

The developments have triggered intense discussion on social media and within local communities, with some residents already referring to a suspected serial killer.

But investigators have yet to publicly establish that a serial killer is responsible.

That distinction is crucial.

While similarities between some of the cases have raised concern, investigators still have to establish through forensic evidence and other investigative work whether the deaths are connected.

A community on edge

For women living in Kempton Park, the investigation has become more than a police matter.

It has become a question of everyday safety.

Women who run, walk, commute or travel through relatively isolated areas are increasingly asking whether familiar routes can still be regarded as safe.

The disappearance and subsequent death of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old woman who had gone out for a run, has particularly unsettled the local running community.

Her case has amplified concerns among residents who use the area's roads and open spaces for exercise and daily travel.

What investigators need to establish

At the centre of the investigation is whether there is a common link between the victims.

Investigators will need to establish, among other things, whether the women were targeted in similar circumstances, whether forensic evidence links the scenes, whether there are common behavioural patterns and whether the same individual or group could be responsible.

Until that evidence is established, describing the perpetrator as a serial killer remains a suspicion rather than a confirmed fact.

That has not stopped anxiety from spreading.

And therein lies one of the biggest challenges for authorities: reassuring communities without prematurely dismissing legitimate concerns.

Police intensify investigation

Police have assembled specialised investigators to examine the cases, with forensic and investigative psychology expertise expected to play an important role.

Authorities have also appealed to members of the public who may have information to come forward.

A reward has been announced for information that could assist investigators.

For families of the victims, however, the investigation is about more than statistics.

It is about names, faces and unanswered questions.

It is about daughters who did not return home, mothers whose families are now mourning, and communities trying to understand how such deaths could occur in places they know so well.

The question Kempton Park is asking

The question confronting Kempton Park is not simply whether there is a serial killer.

It is whether authorities can establish the truth quickly enough to protect potential victims and give grieving families the answers they deserve.

For now, investigators continue to work through the evidence.

The public, meanwhile, is watching.

And waiting.

InsightJoziNews.org will continue to follow developments in the Kempton Park investigation and report on verified information as it becomes available.

By Noko Maleka
InsightJoziNews.org
TikTok: @insightjozinews