SAPS under pressure to solve string of murders in Ekurhuleni - IOL

As the murders of nine women in Ekurhuleni shock South Africa, pressure mounts on police to solve the case amidst fears of a suspected serial killer on the loose.

The South African Police Service (SAPS) could be pressured to secure an arrest to avoid public outcry regarding the tragic murders of nine women in Kempton Park and across Ekurhuleni. 

This information comes from Stephen Birch, a South African property developer and self-styled investigator who became involved in the high-profile case of British toddler Madeleine McCann, who disappeared while on holiday with her family in Portugal.

Birch, who recently released a social media video aimed at drawing out the suspected “serial killer,” said the SAPS is under massive pressure, adding that there will be a huge public outcry should the killer drop another body. 

These remarks come after acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia on Friday led the first phase of the ministerial oversight in Kempton Park. 

According to the statement released on Friday, the purpose of this visit was to deliberate and explore strategic solutions regarding the murders.

Cachalia was joined by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, Deputy Minister Cassel Mathale, divisional commissioner for visible policing and operations, Lt-Gen Maropeng Mamothethi, Gauteng provincial commissioner, Lt-Gen Tommy Mthombeni, deputy provincial commissioners, Ekurhuleni Metro Police Chief, senior representatives from the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Civilian Secretariat for Police, Community Safety, senior representatives from Ekurhuleni Municipality and the Community Policing Forum. 

The nine bodies were found in areas spanning Kempton Park, Rhodesfield, Olifantsfontein, KwaThema, Clayville, and Dawn Park.

The first victim was found near the R21 on July 15 (Jabulile Ntimba), followed by more discoveries near the highway and surrounding areas, including multiple bodies found on September 10. 

Many of the victims were found half-naked or partially clothed with signs of physical trauma or bruising. 

Birch said the killer appears to be highly intelligent and intimately familiar with geographical knowledge of the area.

He added that the deliberate and careful planning was evident in the meticulously selected disposal sites, which featured highly specific indicators such as buffer zones, dense foliage, and T-junctions. 

“Catching this killer will be very difficult because he is smart,” Birch said. 

He explained that the suspect could have easily abducted, murdered, and hidden the victims before returning their bodies to the streets without raising any suspicion.

Birch added that the suspected killer carefully selected the locations and that the majority of them lacked street lighting. 

He said the evidence shows that the killer knew everything about the area. 

Birch added that other bodies found in parts of Ekurhuleni may indicate the same person is responsible. 

“What is interesting is that the Rhodefield disposal is slightly different from others. The body was taken a further distance from the side of the road rather than others that were just dropped. 

“Based on my assumptions, we are likely looking for a vehicle, specifically a van with a side door that allows for rapid body disposal. I am currently constructing an operational profile of the suspect's methods,” Birch said.

He said police are ruining the crimes by driving and walking over crucial evidence, and it is baffling that they have not even determined the perpetrator's height.

A multidisciplinary task team, headed by the divisional commissioner for detective and forensic services Lt-Gen Hilda Senthumule, KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, was established to investigate the death. 

Asked how far the investigations are, SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe did not respond at the time of this publication.

The SAPS previously stated they have not yet formally linked all the cases or confirmed if a serial killer is responsible.

One suspect (the partner of a victim) was arrested in connection with the body that was found in July, and three suspects (one man and two women) were arrested by the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit in connection with the ninth victim found in Dawn Park. 

However, during court proceedings, the State confirmed that it has released the male suspect without charge.

According to the reports, Ntimba’s family alleged that one of the suspects behind the murder is a neighbour, adding that the suspects created a scene matching those found in Ekurhuleni so it would appear to be the work of the alleged “serial killer”.

In her Substack publication of September 16, investigative psychologist Dr Micki Pistorius also stated that investigators should seriously consider the possibility of an active serial killer in relation to the killings.

“At this stage clearly there are similarities in the victim profiles; the concentrated vicinity of the murder scenes is accessible within a 30-minute drive, and certain aspects of the modus operandi made public, such as the victims being clearly dumped and not killed at the scene and them being partially dressed, would be enough for me to declare a serial killer active,” she said.