SAPS confident women’s killers will be brought to justice

The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it is only a matter of time before those responsible for the killings of women in Gauteng are brought to justice.

SAPS Deputy National Police Commissioner, Tebello Mosikili, says investigators will not rush the cases simply to make arrests, stressing that evidence must stand up in court.

Speaking outside the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Mosikili said a strengthened multidisciplinary team is examining evidence and following every credible lead.

“We don’t go to court for the purpose of just arresting and going to court. We want to make sure that the investigation team do thorough work, they do thorough analysis, they collect evidence that will assist us so that when we go to court our cases are going to be enrolled and the perpetrators can see the full might of the law,” she said.

Nine women have been found dead in several parts of Ekurhuleni since July, with the latest victim, Jabulile Ntimba, found partially clothed in Villa Liza near Dawn Park, Boksburg last week.

Three suspects – two women and a man – were initially arrested in connection with Ntimba’s murder.

Deputy National Police Commissioner, Tebello Mosikili, says investigators have identified an indication that Ntimba’s murder may have stemmed from a relationship-related matter, including what has been described as a possible love triangle.

She says police will not disclose further details at this stage, as doing so could compromise the investigation and court process.

Mosikili says investigators are still working to establish whether the wider Ekurhuleni cases are linked, amid concerns over similarities in how some of the women were found. Police have not confirmed that Ntimba’s murder is connected to the other cases.

Two of the suspects, Fortunate Masilela and Tsakane Nester Msithini, appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday, facing charges of premeditated murder and defeating or obstructing the course of justice.

The case against the male suspect was not enrolled, with the State saying there is currently insufficient evidence against him.

Masilela and Msithini have been remanded in custody and are expected to apply for bail on 1 October.

Mosikili added that a R400 000 reward remains available for credible information that could assist solve the cases, with no one having yet come forward to claim it.

The update comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa moves to reassure the public that the government will deploy additional resources and technology in its response to gender-based violence and femicide.

“Women of South Africa should never have to live in fear of men,” Ramaphosa said.

Meanwhile, another woman’s body was found at a dam in Moroka, Soweto, on Sunday evening. Police have opened an inquest and say the circumstances surrounding her death are not yet known.

In KwaZulu-Natal, SAPS have also arrested two men in separate cases involving alleged serial rape.

A 46-year-old man arrested in Durban has allegedly been linked through DNA evidence to 16 rape cases, 14 of which occurred in Cato Manor.

A second suspect, aged 36, has allegedly been linked to at least 14 rape cases across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Victims of femicide in Ekurhuleni in order of their discoveries:

1. Busisiwe Mahlangu found in Kempton Park on 15 July 2026
2. Itumeleng Kekana found in Kempton Park on 03 August 2026
3. Nomfesane Mjobo found in Kempton Park on 26 August 2026
4. Unknown found floating at Clayville river in Olifantsfontain on the 7 September 2026
5. Gracious Nkomo found in Kempton Park on 10 September 2026
6. Elizabeth Moselakgomo found in Kempton park on 12 September 2026
7. Name withheld – her name cannot yet be revealed until her family has been informed; found in Olifantsfontein on 14 September 2026
8. Dineo Motapane found in Kwa-Thema on 15 September 2026
9. Jabulile Ntimba found in Dawn park on 17 September 2026

#sapsHQ [READ: ADDRESS BY THE DEPUTY NATIONAL COMMISSIONER FOR POLICING, LT GEN TEBELLO MOSIKILI, OUTSIDE THE BOKSBURG MAGISTRATE’S COURT TODAY] Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili; outside the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Monday,… https://t.co/aThuuaZzOK pic.twitter.com/jlHPr1eZyV

— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) September 21, 2026