Gracious Nkomo is fourth woman identified in Ekurhuleni murder investigation

Gracious Nkomo, 28, has been identified by her family as the fourth woman among nine whose deaths are being investigated across Ekurhuleni, 

For weeks, Nkomo's family had searched for her, going to mortuaries, hospitals, police stations and areas around Kempton Park hoping to find her alive.

On social media, appeals for help to locate her were shared repeatedly.

One missing-person appeal circulated under the name Aisha Gracious Nkomo, describing a Zimbabwean woman who had been missing for more than 10 days and asking for help to find her. The appeal said she had been living in Pretoria and working at a lodge in Kempton Park.

Nkomo's body was discovered on September 10 along the R21 in Kempton Park. She was the third woman whose body was found in the Kempton Park area that day.

It was only on Thursday that her family identified her body.

A social media account purported to be Nkomo's subsequently began receiving messages of condolence and rest-in-peace tributes.

Police are investigating her death as part of the wider investigation into the women whose bodies have been found across Ekurhuleni since July.

They have not established that all nine deaths are connected and have cautioned against speculation about a serial killer.

Nkomo joins three other women who have been identified by their families: Itumeleng Kekana, 32, Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, and Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38.

Five women remain unidentified.

Itumeleng Kekana

Meanwhile Kekana's family had searched for 17 days and nights, praying she would be found alive, before they were called to identify her body. 

The 32-year-old mother of a 14-year-old daughter was from QwaQwa in the Free State but had been living in Kempton Park, where she sold beauty products.

Her family reported her missing at Kempton Park police station on July 17 after she failed to return home. 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.

Last night (Thursday) Ana Studio photographer, Itumeleng English, covering an Orlando Pirates game captured a fan holding up a sign honouring the women killed in Ekurhuleni.

Kekana's older brother, Themba Kekana, had previously said his sister was a passionate Orlando Pirates supporter. When Pirates won the match 2-0, I could not help thinking that, somehow, they had won it for Kekana.

The image (below of the fan) offers a poignant reminder that behind the investigation are women who were known, loved and missed by their families and communities. 

Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo

For mother and runner Moselakgomo’s it was her eight-year-old daughter, with whom she shared a close bond, who raised the alarm when her mother failed to return from her usual run.

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 but was never to return.

She was  “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

Motapane was last seen on Sunday and her body was found in Springs on Tuesday. It was her family who identified her at Springs Mortuary on Wednesday afternoon.

The 38-year-old was found dead on the side of a road in KwaThema, Springs, on September 15. Police have not established that the nine 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 and Gracious's stories 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.

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. 

Four women now have names. Five remain unidentified. Their families, too, are still waiting for answers.