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Nine Women Found Dead in Ekurhuleni as Police Step Up Forensic Inquiry

Multidisciplinary police teams have offered rewards for tips while forensic comparisons continue to determine whether the cases are linked.

Overview

  • Police confirmed on Thursday that 28-year-old Gracious Nkomo was identified at Germiston Mortuary and that her death will be investigated alongside other bodies found in Kempton Park.
  • Authorities say nine women have been discovered across multiple Ekurhuleni communities since mid‑July, with recoveries reported in places including Kempton Park, Dawn Park, Pomona and KwaThema.
  • Investigators report repeated signs of abuse on the bodies—bruising, slashed throats, states of undress and an earlier case with hands bound by cable ties—but police have not yet concluded a single perpetrator is responsible.
  • Operational measures include a multidisciplinary SAPS investigation with specialist forensic teams, public appeals and monetary rewards offered by police and the Democratic Alliance to generate tips.
  • Community groups, faith leaders and campaigns such as #NotInMyName have held vigils and protests to demand stronger action against gender‑based violence while officials urge immediate reporting of missing people and warn against circulating graphic images.