Itumeleng Kekana, 32, Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, and Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38.
Just take a moment to pause.
These are three names we now know among nine women (updated: 10.22 Sept 17) whose deaths are being investigated across Ekurhuleni, but the women have a story beyond how they died.
Kekana's family had searched for 17 days and nights, praying she would be found alive, before they were called to identify her body.
Moselakgomo’s eight-year-old daughter raised the alarm when her mother failed to return from her usual run.
Motapane was last seen on Sunday, her body was found in Springs on Tuesday, and her family identified her at Springs Mortuary on Wednesday afternoon.
Itumeleng Kekana
Kekana was 32 when she disappeared in July.
The mother of a 14-year-old daughter was from Qwa Qwa in the Free State had been living in Kempton Park and sold beauty products. Her family reported her missing at Kempton Park police station on July 17, after she failed to return home.
Her family's search lasted 17 days. Her brother travelled from Qwa Qwa to Kempton Park to help look for her.
The family searched hospitals, clinics, mortuaries and police stations as the days passed without answers.
Her body was found on August 3 near Great North Road in Pomona, close to the Max informal settlement.
She was buried in Qwa Qwa on August 22.
Her older brother, Themba Kekana, described her as humble and said she was a passionate Orlando Pirates supporter. He said the family had prayed hard that she would return alive when she went missing.
She left behind a 14-year-old daughter, who is now living with her grandparents.
Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo
For Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, running was part of everyday life.
The 38-year-old from Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, was a member of Team Vitality and had taken part in organised running events, including the Wanderers 21km.
She left home for her usual run on September 9.
When she did not return, her eight-year-old daughter, with whom she shared a close bond, raised the alarm and the family reported her missing.
Moselakgomo's body was found in Rhodesfield, behind a hotel near the R21.
Her family identified her remains at the Germiston mortuary on September 14.
Her death has since prompted tributes from members of the running community, while a fundraising campaign for her daughter has raised more than R100,000.
The 38-year-old was described as “the glue that held us together”, said her uncle Lieutenant Colonel Andries Matlaila, who is also the family spokesperson. He described Moselakgomo as a familiar, home-oriented professional, a dedicated church choir member, and a passionate runner.
She will be buried this weekend.
“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," said Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia, who has vowed to leave no stone unturned in finding those responsible.
Dineo Evelyn Motapane
Dineo Evelyn Motapane was the most recently identified of the three.
The 38-year-old was found dead on the side of a road in KwaThema, Springs, on September 15.
Her family identified her body at Springs Mortuary the following day.
Police said Motapane had last been seen alive on the Sunday before her body was discovered.
Beyond those details, little verified information about Motapane's life has yet been made public.
Her identification means three of the eight women whose deaths are being investigated can now be named.
But police have not established that the eight women were killed by the same person or group.
Itumeleng was a mother and small-business seller who loved Orlando Pirates.
Elizabeth was a mother, runner and member of a community that knew her through the miles she ran.
Dineo's story is only beginning to emerge.
Meanwhile, police have offered a R400,000 reward for information that could lead to arrests and established a high-level multidisciplinary team to investigate the deaths. Police have also increased visibility in Kempton Park and surrounding areas through Operation Shanela.
Police have not established that the eight women were killed by the same person or group and have cautioned against speculation about a serial killer. One suspect has been arrested in connection with the first July case, while investigators continue to examine the other deaths.
The deaths come as South Africa continues to grapple with gender-based violence. The government declared GBVF a national disaster in November 2025, adding to the urgency around the country's response to violence against women.
Five women remain unidentified in the Ekurhuleni investigations. Their families, like those of the women who have now been named, are still waiting for answers.
UPDATED: 10.22 - Police say a ninth woman's body has been found.