EKURHULENI – The Democratic Alliance has announced a R500 000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for killing multiple women in the Kempton Park area and surrounds.
The party made the announcement today, 16 September, as police continue investigating the deaths of eight women whose bodies have been found across the municipality since July.
Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, the DA’s mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, said the reward aims to supplement law enforcement efforts already underway.
“As the DA mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni, the more I can do to help bring this perpetrator to book, the more we will do. I want to see Ekurhuleni safer and better governed as soon as possible, and that means ensuring murderers are arrested and put in jail,” Rasilingwane said.
The reward comes as fears grow that a serial killer may be targeting vulnerable women in the area, particularly around Kempton Park.
Bodies discovered across municipality
Police found the first body on 15 July in an open field near the R21 in Kempton Park. One suspect, identified as the victim’s partner, was arrested two days later in connection with that case.
Since then, seven more bodies have been discovered in areas including Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema. Many of the victims were found partially or fully naked and in various states of decomposition.
Only two of the eight women have been formally identified. One is Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo (38), a runner and centre manager at Festival Mall, who disappeared on 9 September after leaving her home in Rhodesfield for an afternoon run.
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Her eight-year-old daughter alerted relatives when her mother failed to return home. Police found Moselakgomo’s body on 12 September behind a hotel near the corner of York and Gladiator streets in Rhodesfield.
Rasilingwane highlighted the role of Moselakgomo’s young daughter in bringing attention to her mother’s disappearance.
“Let us not forget the families left behind by the deceased, who are mourning. The young eight-year-old daughter of Elizabeth ‘Tsontso’ Moselakgomo made the first calls highlighting her disappearance, who brought this to light. Society can follow in her footsteps to bring the perpetrator to light too,” he said.
ALSO READ: ‘Enough is enough’: Outrage grows as civil society demands justice for Kempton Park victims
Police investigation continues
The South African Police Service has established a multidisciplinary task team, including investigative psychology and forensic experts, to coordinate the investigation. Police are examining whether the deaths are connected but have not confirmed the presence of a serial killer.
The government has already offered a R400 000 reward for information, bringing the total potential reward to R900 000 with the DA’s contribution.
Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia and acting national police commissioner lieutenant-general Puleng Dimpane have both confirmed the investigation is underway. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called the situation a national crisis and vowed to pursue justice.
Police plan to implement a lockdown of Kempton Park and surrounding areas in coming weeks through an expanded Operation Shanela to increase visibility and safety.
How to claim the DA reward
The DA stated that information must be submitted to the South African Police Service on the record. People seeking the reward must provide the party with proof that information was handed over to police.
The DA will not accept direct tip-offs or reports and will only consider properly lodged police records as sufficient for the reward to be considered.
