The East Rand killings have left communities shaken, with nine women now linked to the investigation. Four of the victims have been identified, shedding light on the women behind the tragic headlines.
Also see: SA celebrities speak out against GBV amid Kempton Park killings
As of Thursday, 17 September 2026, the family of the fourth victim had been positively identified and named. Gracious Nkomo, 28, was the victim who was discovered on 10 September 2026.
Who are the women whose precious lives were brutally taken away?
Gracious Nkomo
Gracious’ body was discovered last Thursday along the R21 in Kempton Park. According to police reports, she was found partially clothed.
Dineo Evelyn Motapane
Dineo Evelyn Motapane is another young lady identified earlier this week, on 16 September 2026. She was the eighth victim who was discovered on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, on the side of the road in KwaThema, Springs.
Her family shared they last saw her on Sunday and did not assume that the body that was discovered, circulating in the news, was their daughter. A family member described the 38-year-old as having tattoos, some across her arm. These led to the family identifying her.
Itumeleng Kekana
The 32-year-old went missing on 17 July 2026.
Born in Qwaqwa, Itumeleng moved to Kempton Park, where she lived with her partner. She was unfortunately declared missing on 18 July 2026. Her brother shared that her colleague was the one who made him aware that Itumeleng was missing. From then on, the family spent 17 days of agony searching for their sister, only to discover her lifeless body partially clothed on 3 August 2026.
Elizabeth Moselakgomo
Elizabeth, referred to as Tsontso, was a runner and mother to her eight-year-old daughter. She went missing after leaving her home in Rhodesfield for a routine run on 9 September 2026.
The 38-year-old’s passing touched many South Africans’ hearts, as a fundraising campaign raised R100,000 as of Wednesday, 16 September 2026. IOL reports that the funds are in support of her daughter’s future education.
Families urged to check Germiston mortuary
On 16 September 2026, after the family of Itumeleng Kekana positively identified her, acting Provincial Commissioner Fred Kekana urged families who know of a missing female relative in their late 20s to early 30s to go to the Germiston government mortuary to see if they can identify the now five unidentified victims.
Also see: Somizi reacts to proposed Kempton Park lockdown amidst investigation.
Ongoing investigations
According to IOL, the acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane extended her deepest condolences to Gracious’ family and confirmed that they will continue to pursue every available lead to find the person behind the gruesome murders.
SABC News reported that the police have shared that the identification of Gracious’ body has brought some clarity to the case. They are yet to disclose what clarity this may be.
Police say the identification of 28-year-old Gracious Nkomo brings some clarity to the investigation into the women whose bodies were discovered in the Kempton Park area. #MorningLive#SABCNews
— SABCNews_MorningLive (@MorningLiveSABC) September 18, 2026
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