Fingerprints sought as police probe nationality of first Kempton Park murder suspect

Police seek fingerprints, Home Affairs checks to verify suspect’s nationality

Authorities are using fingerprint records and involving the Department of Home Affairs to establish the identity and nationality of a man arrested in connection with the first Kempton Park murder discovered in July, Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said.

What investigators have said

The first body was discovered on 15 July in an open veld near the R21 in Kempton Park. The victim was a 37-year-old woman who was found naked and bound with cable ties. A suspect was arrested two days later and appeared in court on Wednesday where he was remanded in custody.

Speaking about the arrested man, Mosikili said early information indicated he might not be South African but that this had not been confirmed. She said police were obtaining fingerprints from police and prison records to verify the individual’s identity and nationality.

“We cannot say yes, it’s a non-South African, but we have been informed that it’s a non-South African,”

“From which country, that is what we are going to be establishing later today with our colleagues from the Department of Home Affairs.”

Agencies involved and lines of inquiry

Mosikili said the Department of Home Affairs had been brought into the process. She also said the State Security Agency had been approached to assist with intelligence gathering and background checks on the suspect to explore any possible links to other bodies.

“I am saying we are meeting as departments. So we want to get the fingerprints from the police and the prison to check so that we can confirm the nationality,”

“I have spoken to our State Security Agency so that we can get all the intelligence that we require on this particular individual and see how far back we can investigate him and any linkage to other bodies,”

Mosikili said no link between the suspect and the other deaths had yet been established.

Wider investigation and recent discoveries

The investigation took another turn when a ninth woman’s body was discovered in Dawn Park, Ekurhuleni. Gauteng acting provincial commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana said preliminary indications were that the woman’s body had been dumped at the scene.

The discovery brings to nine the number of women whose bodies have been recovered across Ekurhuleni since July. Police are investigating whether the cases are connected and have not confirmed that a serial killer is responsible.

Victims identified

Among the victims was 38-year-old runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for a run. Her partially clothed body was found behind a hotel in Rhodesfield on 12 September and was subsequently identified by her family.

Another victim, 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, was found in KwaThema this week and was subsequently identified by her family.

Geography of the cases

According to IOL, the cases stretch across Kempton Park, Pomona, Rhodesfield, Clayville, Olifantsfontein and KwaThema, with several victims found naked or partially clothed.

Investigators continue to collect forensic evidence and intelligence as they seek to confirm the arrested man’s identity and any connections to the other recoveries.