Nine women murdered and no arrests

Premier Panyaza Lesufi has been slated amidst the discovery of the bodies of nine women in the Ekurhuleni metropolitan area.

On Thursday, 17 September 2026, the South African Police Service (SAPS) announced that they had discovered a ninth body.

“Another body of a woman has been discovered in Dawn Park. The incident will be added to the investigations into the deaths of women in Ekurhuleni,” it said.

Discoveries have spanned multiple areas across the metro, including Kempton Park, Rhodesfield, Olifantsfontein, Clayville, and KwaThema.

Forensic evaluations revealed that several victims suffered sexual assault, strangulation, or stabbing.

The investigation further revealed that multiple bodies were discovered naked or partially clothed in secluded areas or bushes.

“A multidisciplinary team of experts has already been mobilised to work on the cases and ensure that those responsible for these crimes are brought before the court.”

The SAPS is conducting DNA analysis and forensic profiling to determine whether a serial killer, multiple perpetrators, or unrelated crimes are involved.

Solly Msimanga, a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, said that Lesufi is failing to protect Gauteng residents, particularly women.

“This failure comes despite boasting about his highly advanced, technologically driven crime-fighting techniques,” he said.

Msimanga demanded that Lesufi must walk the talk and stop his public relations exercise while lives are in danger.

“He must engage with the acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, to ensure sufficient resources are allocated across all police stations to guarantee safety,” he said.

Lesufi’s reaction to these killings was to implement a lockdown in Kempton Park starting tomorrow.

“This is just another gimmick by failed Lesufi. He is quick to respond to problems but struggles to implement effective solutions,” Msimanga said.

The issue of safety and crime in Gauteng is exacerbated by the provincial government’s failure to meet its basic duties and the targets it has set for itself.

One area where Lesufi, as MEC of Community Safety, has failed is in ensuring that police stations have the capacity to keep the public safe.

“During numerous oversight inspections, we found that many police officers are working in buildings with inadequate infrastructure,” he said.

“This does not create a good work environment. At the Kempton Park police station, there is a shortage of detectives, with over 100 cases that need to be solved.”