The South African Police Service issued an urgent warning to women in and around Kempton Park on Sunday 13 September 2026 after the bodies of four women were discovered in the Rhodesfield area over a period of approximately two months, with police noting disturbing similarities in all four cases. Image: Gallo inages
The South African Police Service issued an urgent warning to women in and around Kempton Park on Sunday 13 September 2026. Police found four female bodies in the Rhodesfield area over approximately two months. The Kempton Park Rhodesfield bodies SAPS warning followed the discovery of the fourth body on Saturday evening 12 September 2026. Furthermore, SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed that detectives noted concerning similarities in all four deaths. As a result, police issued a public warning even though they have not yet confirmed a serial offender.
The similarities between the four cases are disturbing. Someone left each woman half-naked with visible bruising. Their bodies turned up within close proximity to each other in the Rhodesfield area. The deaths span approximately two months. Furthermore, Mathe stopped short of confirming a serial killer but made clear the similarities demanded urgent attention. “While investigations are still underway and we have not confirmed that these deaths are linked to a serial killer, the similarities are sufficiently concerning for us to issue a public warning and intensify our investigations,” Mathe said. As a result, detectives are now working to establish whether the four deaths are connected.
Rhodesfield falls within Ekurhuleni in Gauteng, east of Johannesburg. It is a busy urban area near OR Tambo International Airport with a large population of workers, commuters and residents. Four bodies turning up in close proximity over two months raises serious questions about how these women died. Furthermore, SAPS appealed to residents, motorists, security personnel and community members who observed suspicious activity to come forward. As a result, the investigation depends heavily on community information.
Gender-based violence and femicide remain among South Africa’s most serious challenges. The country records some of the highest femicide rates in the world. Four female bodies in the same small area within two months reflects a pattern that women’s rights advocates have warned about for years. Police stations across South Africa receive reports of missing women daily and many cases take months or years to resolve. Furthermore, the Rhodesfield pattern echoes previous cases of serial violence against women including the Soshanguve serial killer cases. As a result, South Africans are watching closely to see whether the investigation produces results before someone harms another woman.
Anyone with information about suspicious activity in the Rhodesfield area can contact Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249.
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Editors Note SAPS has not confirmed any link between the four Rhodesfield deaths and a serial offender. Investigations are ongoing. All information is based on reporting by The Citizen published on 13 September 2026.