Gauteng police have announced the discovery of two more bodies in the Kempton Park R21 killings saga.
The sixth body was discovered in KwaThema, Springs, as the shock and horror around the Kempton Park R21 killings heightens. A seventh body, which was discovered by police on September 7 in Clayville, near the Thembisa Mall, has been linked to the killings.
Earlier, IOL journalist Simon Majadibodu was at the crime scene in KwaThema, Springs, where the Gauteng police commissioner Lieutenant General Kekana announced that there was a seventh victim, whose body was found near a river in Clayville, next to Tembisa Mall, on September 7.
In the meantime, Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi has confirmed the discovery and said the area had been cordoned off as police investigators search for clues.
Discovery 7 – September 7, 2026
Speaking to the media, Gauteng top cop Major General Fred Kekana said the identity of the victim remained unknown, but said police were going through the necessary processes to identify the woman, who was found half naked in a river.
Kekana said a preliminary report about the body discovered in KwaThema showed that the woman appeared to have been strangled to death.
“That’s what we have for now, but post-mortem will be done first thing tomorrow morning as we do our arrangement with our Department of Health,” he said.
He said the team was working work to resolve the murders.
“What I can assure you is that the team is hard at work and we are doing all that we can to link anything that can assist. Hence, we went and checked even this body that was found on the cemetery, but there was this body that was found floating in the river of a female,” he said, adding that she was found naked with her underwear on.
Discovery 6 – September 15, 2026
According to residents in the area, the latest body was found naked and it was already in the early stages of decomposing. The area in which the body was dumped is within the township community of KwaThema, Springs, where there are houses, a tuck shop and a local church nearby.
The GPS location also shows that the local community hall and a stadium were a stone’s throw away from the crime scene.
Unlike in the Rhodesfield case, the grass in the area was well kept and it is believed that the body was dumped recently in the area.
The Department of Health’s Pathology Unit was at the scene to remove the body, while the authorities continued to comb the scene for clues.
On Monday, police discovered a fifth body in the Olifantsfontein area, while at the weekend the authorities had announced at least four bodies of half-naked women who were bruised or beaten in and around the Kempton Park area.
Distance
According to Google data, the driving distance between Discovery 1 (Kempton Park Industrial Zone) and Discovery 6 (KwaThema, Springs) is about 40 to 45 kilometres.
By car, the trip typically takes 30 to 40 minutes under normal traffic conditions via the main regional highways (N12 and R21).
Killings Backgroud
The murder cases appear to be linked, raising fears of a serial killer operating in the area, although police have yet to conclusively determine if indeed a serial killer is on the loose. They said during a press briefing on Monday, that they could not confirm or deny if a serial killer was on the loose, but investigations were ongoing.
The common thread among the killings appears to be location: all the killings appear to be taking place near and around the R21 in Kempton Park, and an apparent targeting of women. All the victims are found naked or half-naked, while they are also found with visible bruising on their bodies.
On Monday, IOL reported that in a two-month period, between July 15, 2026 and September 14, 2026, Gauteng police had made the grim discovery of five bodies of mostly half-naked women murdered in the Kempton Park area.
The graphic below shows the discovery of the earlier five discoveries.
Gauteng police have established a Task Team after five half-naked bodies of women were found murdered in the Kempton Park area.
Minister Speaks on Kempton Park Killings
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, who returned to the country on Monday night after a recent visit to China, has expressed deep concern about the Kempton Park killings.
He is set to meet with Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane on Tuesday afternoon to receive a detailed briefing on the progress of the investigation.
“The discovery of multiple women murdered in the Kempton Park area is deeply disturbing… The meeting with the investigating team will provide an opportunity to assess the progress of the investigation and ensure that all necessary resources and operational support are being brought to bear.
“The safety of women is a priority. The SAPS will continue working with communities and other stakeholders to identify risks, strengthen policing responses and ensure that credible information is acted upon.
“We appeal to anyone with information that may assist the investigation to come forward through the appropriate police channels. We also urge the public not to circulate unverified information or make accusations without evidence. Our thoughts remain with the families of the deceased during this deeply painful time,” said Minister Cachalia.
Discovery 1 – July 15, 2026
A 37-year-old old woman was found half-naked and dead in an open veld near the R21 highway. In this instance, Gauteng police say a suspect was arrested two days later. He has been in custody ever since.
Discovery 2 – August 24, 2026
In the second incident on August 24, 2026, Gauteng police say a 32-year-old woman was found dead. She had visible bruises on her body and she was found half-naked. Her body was also found on the R21 highway, Kempton Park.
Discovery 3 – September 10, 2026
In the third incident closer to Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, an unidentified woman’s body was found at the stage of decomposing. She was also half-naked.
Discovery 4 – September 12, 2026
On Saturday, Gauteng police found a fourth body in the Rhodesfield area. Police said the body of a 38-year-old woman was found during the search for missing jogger Elizabeth Mokolo Moselakgomo, who had left her 8-year-old daughter at home to go for a run. The police said the woman found was wearing sports gear, although they have yet to confirm if Moselakgomo was indeed the victim.
Discovery 5 – September 14, 2026
In the fifth discovery on the R21 closer to Olifantsfontein, Gauteng police have found a fifth body. The scene is still active and more information is expected in the coming hours.
Each of the geo-located map illustrations above have been produced using verified reports from the SAPS and from IOL journalists reporting on the story.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has ordered a task team to lead investigations into the Kempton Park murders. This task team will include detectives from specialised units, including the Murder and Robbery Unit and the Investigative Psychology Unit.
Gauteng’s Deputy Provincial Commissioner Major General Mbuso Khumalo has been appointed to lead the investigations. Police have also called on women in particular, not to run or walk alone, to avoid secluded spaces, remain vigilant and, where possible, travel or exercise in groups.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has announced a shut down of Ekurhuleni in the coming weeks amid rising murders of women. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has announced plans to shut down parts of Ekurhuleni, particularly Kempton Park and surrounding areas, as authorities intensify the hunt for those responsible for a growing number of killings of women.The announcement follows the discovery of eight bodies across the area over the past […]
