Police hunt family of woman found in Clayville as probe into nine Ekurhuleni deaths continues

Police are continuing efforts to trace the family of an unidentified woman whose body was found floating in a river in Clayville, near the Mall of Tembisa, on September 7, authorities said as they investigate a string of deaths of women across Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas.

How the woman was found

Deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili told reporters that the woman discovered in the Clayville river was wearing only her underwear. Police have not publicly identified her.

Wider investigation: nine women found dead

The discovery in Clayville is one of nine cases in which bodies of women have been found in Ekurhuleni and nearby areas over about two months, police said. The victims named by police in the ongoing investigation include:

• Busisiwe Mahlangu, 37, found July 15 in a field in Kempton Park; she was naked and her hands were bound with cable ties.
• Itumeleng Kekana, 32, went missing July 17 and her body was found August 3 along Great North Road in Pomona.
• Nomfesane Mjobo, found dead in Kempton Park on August 26.
• An unidentified woman found floating in a river in Clayville on September 7, wearing only underwear.
• Gracious Nkomo, 28, found near the R21 in Kempton Park on September 10.
• Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, found dead behind a hotel in Rhodesfield after going out for a run.
• An unidentified woman found in Olifantsfontein on September 14 who was reportedly semi-naked and bruised.
• Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, found beside a road in KwaThema, Springs, on September 15; preliminary pathology findings indicated she had been strangled.
• Jabulile Ntimba, found September 17 in Dawn Park with a fatal throat injury.

Arrests and court appearances

Two women, Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on charges of premeditated murder and defeating the ends of justice in connection with the death of Jabulile Ntimba. They were remanded in custody and are expected to apply for bail on October 1. As the charges are Schedule 6 offences, they must satisfy the court that exceptional circumstances exist for release on bail.

Police confirmed a man who was arrested alongside the two women has since been released and not charged; Mosikili said he is still being investigated and police are following up on possible links to Ntimba’s murder.

Identity efforts and comments from police

Mosikili said police had traced an address that could be linked to the unidentified Clayville woman.

“We managed to track and trace the address and contacted our colleagues elsewhere in the country just to go and verify that address and see who they find at the address that we are having at our disposal,”

she said. She added that police would make an announcement only after the identity had been confirmed and the family properly contacted.

Are the deaths linked?

The deaths have alarmed residents and families, but police cautioned against early conclusions.

“We are not discounting any possibility, but we are not at this stage still. I think it’s seven days down the line. We cannot say there is a serial killer on the loose,”

Mosikili said, noting investigators were still gathering evidence.

Police said investigations are ongoing, with follow-ups under way, identity parades conducted where necessary, and consultations with prosecutors as part of a guided investigation.