KILLING SPREE: Fourth Ekurhuleni murder victim identified, ninth woman’s body found

{JSON.stringify(article.attachments[0], null, 2)} --> A ninth woman’s body found in Villa Liza raises the toll to nine in Ekurhuleni since July; former SAPS profiler urges treating cases as a serial investigation.

On Thursday evening, 17 September 2026, SAPS said that 28-year-old Gracious Nkomo was positively identified by her family at the Germiston mortuary. Nkomo’s body was found partially clothed and in a state of decomposition along the R21 in Kempton Park on 10 September 2026.

A missing-persons alert for Nkomo has been circulating across social media platforms for more than two weeks. The widely circulated alert said that Nkomo was working at a lodge in Kempton Park at the time of her disappearance.

Her identification comes as police investigate the deaths of women whose bodies have been discovered across Ekurhuleni since July, with similarities among some of the cases raising concerns about a possible connection.

Nkomo is among four of nine murdered women who have so far been identified .

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane offered her condolences to Nkomo’s loved ones and said the multidisciplinary team of investigators and specialists was continuing to work “around the clock” to establish the circumstances surrounding each case and identify those responsible.

Nkomo’s identification comes after the body of a woman believed to be about 30 years old was found on Thursday morning, 17 September 2026, in an open space on Lama Street in the Villa Liza area of Dawn Park, Boksburg. Her body was discovered partially clothed and with multiple stab wounds.

Acting Gauteng Police Commissioner Major General Frank Kekana said that the woman’s throat had probably been slit, although the forensic team is yet to provide confirmation. He also said preliminary indications suggested her body had been dumped. Her identity has not yet been formally established.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said the case would be added to the investigation into the deaths of women in Ekurhuleni since July.

“The unidentified body was discovered earlier this morning, 17 September 2026. This brings the total number of bodies discovered to nine in two months,” Nevhuhulwi said.

Boksburg resident Puleng Kgane was part of the large crowd drawn to the crime scene.

“We have been hearing the news on the radio and seeing it on television, wondering if they’ll be reporting on us next. We don’t know what could happen here. So we’re very scared as young women, and we don’t know how many people are behind this,” said Kgane.

Paulina Mogela said the recent discoveries had caused anguish and distress, adding that she feared for her grandchildren’s safety the most.

“My grandchildren live in different parts of the country. It terrifies me to think this could happen to any of them,” said Mogela, also a Boksburg resident.