What happened
Elizabeth Moselakgomo disappeared on 9 September after leaving her Roseville home for an evening run; her body was found east of Johannesburg on Saturday and identified by family at the Germiston mortuary on Monday, police confirmed.
South African police have confirmed the death of runner Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who went missing after leaving her home in Roseville, Kempton Park for an evening run on 9 September. Her body was discovered east of Johannesburg on Saturday and identified by relatives at the Germiston state mortuary on Monday.
She is one of five women whose half-naked, bruised bodies have been found in the Kempton Park area, police said. Just hours before her identification on Monday, another woman's body was found about 25 kilometres away, spotted by a passer-by on his way to work, according to police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe.
Police said they are not linking the deaths to a serial killer but called the similarities sufficiently concerning to issue a public warning. One person has been arrested in connection with the first body and remains in custody, and a dedicated task team has been set up to investigate the murders.
Officers have urged women in the area to avoid walking or running alone, especially in isolated spots. The case has reignited national debate about gender-based violence in South Africa, where UN Women data cited by the BBC says women are killed at five times the global average rate.
Timeline
Key dates in the Kempton Park case.
- 9 Sep 2026 — Elizabeth Moselakgomo leaves Roseville home for evening run and goes missing
- 13 Sep 2026 (Sat) — Body discovered east of Johannesburg
- 15 Sep 2026 (Mon) morning — Another woman's body found ~25 km away, spotted by passer-by
- 15 Sep 2026 (Mon) — Family identifies Moselakgomo at Germiston mortuary; police confirm death and announce task team
What police confirmed
Five bodies found half-naked and bruised, one arrest in custody, task team formed, and a public safety warning issued — but no serial-killer link declared yet.
Why this case matters
South Africa faces one of the world's highest rates of gender-based violence. The Kempton Park discoveries have sparked fresh fear among runners and prompted calls for better protection, with community voices saying women must constantly calculate when and where they can exist safely.
Why it matters for me
Police set up a dedicated task team, made one arrest, and warned women in Kempton Park to avoid running or walking alone in isolated areas as four other unidentified bodies were found nearby.
Safety
Women Advocates · Sports Runners
Police warning changes daily safety — women in Kempton Park urged not to run or walk alone in isolated areas.
Daily Life
General Public
Task team investigation and one arrest signal a major police probe; families await identification of remaining victims.
Daily Life
General Public · Women Advocates
Case spotlights South Africa's gender-based violence crisis — women killed at 5x the global average, per UN Women.
What to remember
Five women found dead near Kempton Park — police urge women not to run alone as investigation widens.
Missing runner Elizabeth Moselakgomo found dead — one of five women discovered near Kempton Park as South Africa police launch task team.
Verified sources (4)
Body of missing runner found in South Africa / Kempton Park: Fear in South Africa after Elizabeth Moselakgomo's body found
↗Body of missing Kempton Park runner identified
↗Body of missing runner found in South Africa
↗Body of missing runner found in South Africa
↗Claims and linked sources
11 claimsSouth African police confirmed the death of jogger Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who went missing during a routine run last week and prompted a nationwide appeal.
The body was identified by Moselakgomo's relatives on Monday at the Germiston state mortuary, after it was discovered east of Johannesburg on Saturday.
She is one of five women whose bodies have been found half-naked and bruised in the Kempton Park area.
Police said they were not linking the deaths to a serial killer, but added the 'similarities are sufficiently concerning' to issue a public warning.
Just hours earlier on Monday, another woman's half-naked body was found about 25km away, spotted by a passer-by on his way to work, per police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe.
The latest body was found approximately 25 kilometres (15 miles) from the Kempton Park site.
One arrest has been made in connection with the discovery of the first body; the person remains in police custody.
Moselakgomo disappeared after leaving her home in Roseville for an evening run and had not been seen since 9 September; she was reported missing at the Kempton Park police station.
Police set up a task team to investigate the murders after Moselakgomo's death and the series of grim discoveries.
Police urged women in the Kempton Park area to avoid walking or running alone, particularly in isolated areas.
South Africa has some of the world's highest levels of gender-based violence, with women being killed at five times the global average rate, according to UN Women.
Community signals
Signal-only · not reporting“It's sad to know that every woman in South Africa… can't just go outside. You can't just go to the shop and buy flowers… because you are always in danger.”
“Women are not free if we have to calculate where, when and with whom we can walk, run or exist safely.”
“What is the purpose of having a protective service like the police if we have to make sure… we are [protecting] ourselves.”