MABE CALLS FOR PEACE WHILE CONDEMNING WOMEN’S MURDER ASTROCITIES!
By AKASIA EXPRESS NEWS REPORTER
The South African Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Peace Mabe, has strongly condemned the continuing violence against women following the discovery of the bodies of nine women in and around Kempton Park and other parts of Ekurhuleni over the past two months.
The latest killings have caused widespread fear, anger and grief, with four of the victims now identified by their families as Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, Itumeleng Kekana, Dineo Evelyn Motapane and Gracious Nkomo.
The identities of the remaining five women had not been publicly confirmed by 19 September.
Mabe said the deaths represent a devastating attack on women’s right to life, dignity and freedom of movement.
“No woman should fear that going for a run, walking to work, being at home in her safe space, going to a mall, moving through her community or simply going on a date could cost her life. Women have the right to participate in sport, exercise outdoors and occupy public spaces without fear of being attacked or killed,” Mabe said.
She extended her condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, while expressing solidarity with the running community, civil society organisations, non-profit organisations and groups working in the gender-based violence and femicide sector.
Mabe welcomed the prioritisation of the investigations by law-enforcement authorities and called for all necessary resources to be deployed to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and bring those responsible to justice.
FOUR VICTIMS IDENTIFIED!
The identification of four of the women has begun putting names and personal stories behind the growing number of deaths.
Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, was a mother and member of the running community. She disappeared while out on a run in the Kempton Park area. Her death has prompted members of the running community to organise memorial activities in her honour.
Itumeleng Kekana, 32, was also identified by her family after her remains were recovered. She had reportedly been missing for 17 days before her family confirmed her identity.
Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, was found beside a road in KwaThema, Springs. Her family subsequently identified her at the Springs Mortuary.
The fourth identified victim is Gracious Nkomo, 28, whose partially clothed body was discovered along the R21 in Kempton Park on 10 September. Her family identified her at the Germiston Mortuary on 17 September. Nkomo was the third woman whose body was discovered in the Kempton Park area that day.
The identification of the four women has left five other families still waiting for answers.
NINE BODIES RECOVERED
The South African Police Service confirmed on 17 September that a ninth woman’s body had been discovered in Dawn Park, Boksburg, bringing the number of women’s bodies recovered in the wider Ekurhuleni investigation to nine.
Police said the body was unidentified at the time of the discovery and that a multidisciplinary team of experts had been mobilised to investigate the cases.
The discoveries have occurred at different locations, including Kempton Park, along the R21, Clayville, Olifantsfontein, KwaThema/Springs and Dawn Park in Boksburg.
Police have acknowledged similarities in some of the cases but have not officially confirmed that all nine deaths were committed by one person or that they are all connected.
Acting Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Major-General Fred Kekana has said investigators are examining the evidence, timelines, locations, victim profiles and circumstances of each case.
Police are considering multiple possibilities, including the possibility of separate perpetrators.
POILICE INTENSIFY OPERATION
The police response has been stepped up in the affected areas.
An intensified Operation Shanela deployment was conducted in Kempton Park, involving roadblocks, patrols and other crime-prevention measures aimed at increasing police visibility and gathering information from residents.
Police said the operation followed continued investigations into the deaths of the nine women.
A multidisciplinary investigative team has been assembled to work across the cases, while authorities have appealed to residents to provide information that could assist detectives.
SAPS has urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or provide an anonymous tip-off through the MySAPS application. Police have said information received will be treated with strict confidentiality.
Police have also urged the public not to circulate graphic photographs or unverified information about the victims and investigations.
RAMAPHOSA: NO STONE WILL BE LEFT UNTURNED!
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also intervened following the discovery of the bodies, directing law-enforcement authorities to prioritise the investigations.
Ramaphosa has expressed condolences to the families of the women and acknowledged the fear and uncertainty created by the killings.
The President said he had engaged the Police Minister and acting National Police Commissioner about the investigations and directed that the cases receive urgent attention.
He has vowed that “no stone will be left unturned” in efforts to establish what happened to the women and bring those responsible to justice.
The President has also appealed to members of the public who may have information to come forward.
The scale of the killings has prompted strong reactions from senior police officials.
Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili said authorities could not continue dealing with the discovery of women’s bodies in this manner.
“We cannot continue picking up bodies,” Mosikili said while addressing the latest developments.
The police investigation has generated growing public concern over whether the deaths could be linked. However, investigators have stressed that this remains an active investigation and that a connection between all nine cases has not been established.
The first five bodies were discovered in or around Kempton Park, while subsequent bodies were found in other parts of Ekurhuleni. Police are comparing evidence from the different crime scenes as they attempt to determine whether there are common links.
MABE: WOMEN MUST NOT BE BLAMED!
Deputy Minister Mabe said the responsibility for ending gender-based violence and femicide cannot be placed on women by telling them where they should or should not go.
“We must confront the perpetrators and the conditions that allow violence against women to continue,” she said.
She called on men to become active partners in challenging harmful behaviour, reporting abuse and protecting the dignity and safety of women and children.
“Every victim has a name, a family, dreams, and a future. Their lives matter. Justice must be pursued without fear or favour,” Mabe said.
The nine deaths have once again placed gender-based violence and femicide at the centre of national debate, while families continue to wait for answers about their loved ones.
For the four families who have identified Moselakgomo, Kekana, Motapane and Nkomo, the investigation is now deeply personal.
For the families of the five women who remain unidentified, the wait continues.
Akasia Express will continue to follow the investigation and report confirmed developments as they emerge.