The family of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo says it has confidence in the police’s newly established multidisciplinary task team investigating the deaths of five women in the Kempton Park and Olifantsfontein areas over the past two months.
Moselakgomo, a resident of Rhodesfield, went missing last Wednesday after leaving home for her usual evening run.
Her body was discovered badly beaten on York Street on Saturday night. Days later, the body of a fifth woman was found in nearby Olifantsfontein on Monday morning.
Police said Moselakgomo’s eight-year-old daughter contacted relatives after her mother failed to return home, prompting the family to report her missing.
Speaking on YOU FM Newshour on behalf of the family, Moselakgomo’s uncle, Andries Matlaila, said the family was devastated by her death but relieved that a dedicated task team had been established.
“SAPS has been on the ground from the first day, and even now we are with them. They have really been supportive, updating and briefing us as the family on every little development around Tsontso’s disappearance,” Matlaila said.
He welcomed the decision by the acting national police commissioner to establish a task team to investigate the deaths.
“Most importantly, we are humbled by the acting national police commissioner’s decision to establish a task team to investigate these senseless killings of women in Kempton Park, and we have full confidence in this team,” he said.
The South African Police Service has deployed specialised units, including crime-scene experts and the Investigative Psychology Unit, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the five deaths.
Similarities in some of the injuries have fuelled speculation and fear within the community that a serial killer could be responsible. However, police have urged the public not to draw conclusions before the investigations establish whether the cases are connected.
National Deputy Police Commissioner for Policing Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili has warned those responsible for the killings that police are closing in.
Mosikili confirmed that a 72-hour investigation operation had been activated, with additional police resources deployed to track down the perpetrators.
“We are coming for you. Your hiding is not going to be long. You may think that you have removed all the evidence. The capacity and capabilities that we have will ensure that we find you wherever you are hiding,” Mosikili warned.
She was joined at a briefing by acting Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Major General Fred Kekana and Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department Chief Isaac Mapiyeye as authorities provided an update on the investigation.
