Ekurhuleni murders expose dangerous gaps in crime data and local policing
Action Society issued its statement on Wednesday, when eight women’s bodies had been discovered in areas including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein and Springs.
However, a ninth woman’s body was discovered in Ekurhuleni on Thursday, bringing the number of women found dead in the area since July to nine. Police are investigating possible links between the cases but have not confirmed that they were committed by a serial offender. SAPS has confirmed similarities in some of the cases and has deployed additional detectives, forensic experts, tracking teams and K9 units. Police say forensic and investigative processes must be completed before any links between the cases can be confirmed.
Action Society is questioning whether earlier connections could have been identified, particularly between missing-person reports and murder cases across neighbouring police precincts a nd is also calling for SAPS to publish corrected and verified statistics on crimes against women and children, as well as detailed information on women reported missing across Ekurhuleni.
According to SAPS, 17 women have been reported missing in the Kempton Park area since January this year. Thirteen have been located and reunited with their families, while questions remain around the status of the others.
Action Society says police should disclose when investigators first began comparing the cases, whether forensic evidence such as DNA is being compared across the investigations, and whether unresolved missing-person and murder cases in the wider East Rand are being reviewed
also pointing to the case of Gaby Ndaba, who disappeared in May 2023 and was later found murdered in Boksburg, saying her family had to push for continued attention to the case.
Action Society national spokesperson Juanita du Preez had the following to say:
SOUNDBITE: ACTION SOCIETY Ekurhuleni murders
