Gauteng Health urges families to help identify three women found in Kempton Park probe

The Gauteng Department of Health has appealed to families with missing relatives to come forward as forensic teams work to identify three women whose bodies remain unidentified in an ongoing probe in Kempton Park and surrounding Ekurhuleni areas. The appeal was published on 15 September 2026.

Who and where

Gauteng Health said the appeal relates to five women whose bodies were discovered between July and September. Families have been able to identify two of those women, while three remain unidentified.

Forensic process under way

The bodies were taken to the Germiston Forensic Pathology Service, where specialists are assisting with identification. Forensic teams have retrieved samples for DNA analysis to help establish the identities of the three women. The Germiston facility is also conducting post-mortem examinations and providing forensic evidence to SAPS as detectives investigate the deaths.

Official appeal

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona urged families who have reported loved ones missing and who may have reason to believe a relative could be among the three unidentified to approach the Germiston facility. He said:

“GDoH appeals to families who have reported loved ones missing and who may have reason to believe that their relative could be among the three unidentified deceased persons to approach the Germiston Forensic Pathology Service for assistance with the identification process.”

Investigation and public assistance

Gauteng Health noted that SAPS remains responsible for establishing the circumstances surrounding the cases and whether any of them are linked. The department also urged anyone with information that could assist the investigation to report it directly to police.

Separate discovery in Springs

Police found another woman dead in KwaThema, Springs on Tuesday morning; authorities have not confirmed any link between that woman and the five deaths referenced in the Gauteng Health appeal.