Three arrested over Dawn Park killing as Ekurhuleni death toll reaches nine women

Three people arrested over the weekend in connection with the death of a woman found in Dawn Park, Boksburg, appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The South African Police Service said the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit detained one man and two women over the killing of Jabulile Ntimba, whose body was found in an open area in Villa Liza on 17 September. Police have not said the three are responsible for any of the other deaths under investigation.

As The South African reported on 21 September, nine women have been found dead across Ekurhuleni since July. Eight have been positively identified. Seven families have been informed.

What police have confirmed

Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, the national police spokesperson, confirmed the names of seven victims on Monday morning. The first body was found in Kempton Park on 15 July. The ninth was found in Dawn Park on 17 September.

The women were found in open fields, next to roads, along the R21, in a river and in other parts of Ekurhuleni. The cases now sit before a multidisciplinary investigation team.

Busisiwe Mahlangu, 37, was found in an open area near the R21 in Kempton Park on 15 July. Police arrested a suspect two days later and have kept him in custody while the murder investigation continues.

Itumeleng Kekana, 32, was found in bushes near Great North Road close to the Max informal settlement in Pomona, Kempton Park, on 3 August. She had been missing since 17 July and had suffered multiple stab wounds, police said.

Nomfesane Mjobo was found in the Kempton Park area on 26 August.

A woman’s body was found floating in a river in Clayville, Olifantsfontein, on 7 September. She is the only one of the nine whom authorities have not positively identified. Police turned to the Department of Home Affairs for biometric records as the number of unidentified victims grew.

Gracious Nkomo, 28, was found along the R21 in Kempton Park on 10 September, partially clothed. Her family identified her at the Germiston mortuary on 17 September.

Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, left her Rhodesfield home for a run and did not return. Her body was found in the Kempton Park area on 12 September and her family identified her at the Germiston mortuary. Her death prompted memorial runs and tributes.

Another woman was found in Olifantsfontein on 14 September. Authorities have identified her but are withholding her name until her family has been formally notified.

Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, was spotted by a passer-by alongside Moshoeshoe Street in Kwa-Thema at about 06:40 on 15 September. Her family identified her at the Springs mortuary the next day. She had last been seen alive on the Sunday before police found her, and her family had not yet reported her missing. She left behind a two-year-old daughter.

Jabulile Ntimba was found in Dawn Park on 17 September. Police initially said preliminary information suggested she may have been killed elsewhere before her body was left at the scene.

Investigators have not drawn a link

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said on Sunday that investigators had found differences in the methods used and possible motives in some of the cases. He said police had not confirmed they were dealing with a serial killer because the cases were not all necessarily linked.

Ian Cameron, who chairs Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, issued a similar caution earlier in the investigation. He said SAPS had deployed specialist detectives, forensic experts, tracking capability, K9 resources and investigative psychology to the cases.

Cachalia announced on Sunday that Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi would assist the investigation. He also confirmed that investigators had called three persons of interest in for questioning. Police later confirmed these were the same three arrested over the Dawn Park case.

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane offered condolences to Nkomo’s family and said detectives would continue pursuing every available lead.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed authorities to give the killings the highest level of attention, and government has increased police visibility in affected areas.

Police are still trying to establish who killed the women, why they were killed, and which of the deaths, if any, connect.

Source: The South African, Ekurhuleni murders: Here are seven of the nine victims named