Police in Ekurhuleni are investigating several fatal incidents following the discovery of a ninth woman’s body in Dawn Park on Thursday, 17 September 2026, the identification of another victim, and the deaths of three people in separate incidents in Kempton Park and Kwa Thema. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has assigned a multidisciplinary team to investigate the deaths of nine women whose bodies were discovered across the municipality over the past two months. Authorities have intensified policing operations and appealed for information as residents raise safety concerns.
The latest developments involve separate investigations across Ekurhuleni. Police have not established that the fatal shooting of racing driver Robert Wolk or the deaths of a couple in Kwa Thema are connected to the cases involving the nine women.
Ninth woman’s body discovered in Dawn Park
The body of another woman was discovered on the side of a road in Dawn Park on Thursday morning.
The woman was reportedly found partially clothed and wrapped in a sheet.
Police are working to establish her identity and determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
The discovery brought the reported number of women whose bodies have been found across Ekurhuleni over the past two months to nine.
Among the victims is 38 year old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who disappeared after leaving her home for an afternoon run. Her body was discovered on Saturday, 12 September.
The cases have prompted concern among residents, who have called for increased police patrols and progress in identifying those responsible.
Gracious Nkomo identified as police continue investigations
Police have confirmed that 28 year old Gracious Nkomo is among the women whose bodies were discovered in Ekurhuleni.
Her family identified her at the Germiston Mortuary on Thursday, 17 September.
According to police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Nkomo’s body was discovered in the Kempton Park area on 10 September.
She was found partially clothed.
Nkomo became the fourth victim to be positively identified, while five other women remained unidentified at the time of the police update.
Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane said investigators were working to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and identify those responsible.
Police have assembled a multidisciplinary team to investigate the cases and pursue available leads.
Investigations remain ongoing, and authorities have not confirmed that all nine deaths were committed by the same person or group.
Police offer R400 000 reward for information
The South African Police Service has offered a reward of R400 000 for information that could help solve the murders and lead to arrests.
Police have also announced intensified operations in Kempton Park through Operation Shanela.
Acting Gauteng police commissioner Fred Kekana has appealed to anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or has information about the incidents to approach investigators.
Residents have also called for a stronger police presence in their communities.
The Democratic Alliance has separately offered R500 000 for information leading to the successful criminal prosecution of those responsible.
The two rewards have different stated conditions. Members of the public should confirm the requirements with the relevant organisation before submitting information.
No confirmed arrest relating to all nine deaths was established in the information available at the time of publication.
Gauteng Premier responds to Ekurhuleni murders
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi visited Dawn Park following the discovery of the latest body.
He said the provincial government would respond to the killings and emphasised the need for accountability and justice.
Lesufi also rejected criticism that authorities had been slow to respond, saying police operations were guided by evidence.
His comments followed growing concern among residents about the number of women found dead across the municipality.
The investigation remains a police matter, with detectives responsible for establishing the circumstances of each death and determining whether evidence links any of the cases.
Racing driver Robert Wolk shot dead in Kempton Park
In a separate incident, South African racing driver Robert Wolk was shot and killed in Esther Park, Kempton Park, on Wednesday evening, 16 September.
Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi confirmed that the shooting occurred at the corner of Camwood Street and Portland Drive following a reported road rage incident.
According to police, an Audi believed to belong to Wolk was found at the scene.
Witness accounts indicate that the incident followed a minor collision involving Wolk’s vehicle and a Volkswagen Jetta.
An argument reportedly occurred after Wolk got out of his vehicle to assess the damage.
A video circulating on social media appears to show the confrontation and subsequent shooting.
Police have opened a murder case and are investigating the motive.
No arrests had been confirmed in the police update.
Wolk, 41, had a motorsport career spanning nearly three decades.
His achievements included national racing championships and a second Simola Hillclimb King of the Hill title in May 2026.
Motorsport South Africa confirmed his death and extended condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.
Police have not indicated that Wolk’s killing is connected to the investigations involving the nine women.
Couple found dead inside Kwa Thema home
Police are also investigating the deaths of a 42 year old woman and a 57 year old man who were found inside a house in the Phomolo section of Kwa Thema.
Officers were called to a property on Mokhitli Street at approximately 1pm on Thursday, 17 September.
According to Ekurhuleni police spokesperson Sergeant Maxwell Mabunda, a young woman directed officers to a room where she believed her parents were unresponsive.
Police found the woman’s body on a bed and the man’s body on the floor nearby.
Officers also reported finding a plastic bag containing a dark substance and similar traces on the deceased.
Emergency medical personnel examined the pair and declared them dead at the scene.
Police opened an inquest docket to establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The investigation has been assigned to Kwa Thema police.
Authorities have not confirmed the cause of death, and the presence of the substance does not establish what happened.
There is also no confirmed connection between this incident and the other deaths under investigation in Ekurhuleni.
What This Means for Gauteng Residents
The investigations involve several communities within Ekurhuleni, including Dawn Park, Kempton Park and Kwa Thema.
For residents, the most immediate development is the intensified police response to the deaths of nine women and the appeal for information that could assist investigators.
Police have not confirmed a common suspect or established that the separate incidents reported this week form part of one investigation.
Residents should therefore avoid circulating unverified claims about suspects, motives or connections between cases.
Anyone with relevant information can approach the police. Witnesses should provide information directly to investigators rather than publishing allegations about individuals on social media.
The identification of victims also remains an important part of the investigation, with five of the nine women still unidentified in the latest reported update.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many women have been found dead in Ekurhuleni?
Nine women’s bodies have reportedly been discovered across Ekurhuleni over the past two months, following the latest discovery in Dawn Park on 17 September 2026.
Has Gracious Nkomo been identified?
Yes. Police confirmed that the family of 28 year old Gracious Nkomo identified her at the Germiston Mortuary on 17 September.
Have police arrested anyone for the nine deaths?
The information available does not confirm arrests relating to all nine cases. Investigations are continuing.
Is Robert Wolk’s murder connected to the deaths of the nine women?
Police have not established a connection. Wolk’s fatal shooting is being investigated as a separate murder case.
What happened to the couple found in Kwa Thema?
A woman and a man were found dead inside a house on 17 September. Police opened an inquest and have not confirmed the cause of their deaths.
Investigations Continue Across Ekurhuleni
Police are pursuing several investigations following the discovery of a ninth woman’s body, the identification of Gracious Nkomo, the fatal shooting of Robert Wolk and the deaths of a couple in Kwa Thema.
The cases have drawn attention to public safety across Ekurhuleni, but the available evidence does not establish that the incidents are connected.
Authorities are continuing their investigations, with police appealing for information that could help identify those responsible and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
