Major city going into lockdown in South Africa
The South African Police Service (SAPS) will effectively lock down parts of Ekurhuleni in the coming weeks as police step up operations following the discovery of the bodies of eight women in and around the city.
In a media briefing on Wednesday (16 September), acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia said a high-level, multidisciplinary team had been established.
This team is set to investigate the murders, and the minister assured families that the cases would receive sustained attention from law enforcement.
“The team is in place, and I can give you the assurance, based on past experience, that when it comes to such situations, the South African Police Service has the experience, the high-level expertise, to investigate cases of this kind,” Cachalia said.
He was speaking alongside the Minister of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga; Social Development Minister, Dina Pule; Deputy Minister of Police, Dr Polly Boshielo; Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi; and Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane.
Police initially revealed over the weekend that four women had been found dead in the same area over a period of about two months.
Further bodies were discovered in different parts of Ekurhuleni on Monday and Tuesday, with an eighth body confirmed on Tuesday evening.
The bodies were found in areas including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville near Tembisa Mall, and KwaThema/Springs.
The developments have triggered a major policing response, and Cachalia said Operation Shanela would be “massively expanded” in Kempton Park and surrounding areas.
“The police will lock down this area in the coming weeks. The community will see the presence of the South African Police Service, and we will mobilise all necessary law enforcement capabilities, working with our communities,” he said.
Police have also offered a R400,000 reward for information that could lead to the arrest of the person or people responsible for the killings.
A national crisis
However, Cachalia stressed that the investigation could not rely solely on financial incentives and urged residents to provide information, given their responsibility to the victims and their communities.
“I want to say the police are not depending on offering rewards. And I’m sure that the people out there, our people, want to report to the police without the necessity of a monetary reward,” he said.
“What is just needed is your humanity, your self-respect, your dignity, your determination to secure justice for the victims.”
Among the victims was 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, whose disappearance after going for a run over the weekend drew widespread attention. Her body was positively identified by her family on Monday.
Cachalia described the discovery of the eight bodies as “deeply distressing”, saying the killings highlighted the dangers faced by women in South Africa.
“The thought that someone can go out on a run to participate in a happy event, never to return home, is too unbearable to think about,” he said.
He said President Cyril Ramaphosa had declared violence against women a national crisis and called for communities to support the investigation.
Cachalia urged Community Policing Forums, community patrollers, church leaders and community-based organisations to work with police, while warning against rumours and unverified claims circulating on social media.
“What is needed is committed law enforcement, visible policing, expert investigation, with the support of our people, with the support of our communities,” he said.
Ramaphosa has separately directed police to prioritise the investigations and pursue those responsible.
“I have spoken to the Minister of Police and the Acting National Police Commissioner, who have briefed me on the investigation,” the President said.
“I have directed that these cases be prioritised and that no stone be left unturned in bringing those responsible to justice.”
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