Nigerian residents and visitors in Ekurhuleni face increased safety warnings after South African police on Thursday recovered the body of a ninth woman east of Johannesburg, deepening concerns about a string of recent deaths in the area.
Deputy Police Chief Tebello Mosikili said the latest body was discovered on the roadside in Dawn Park. The police have imposed a lockdown in Kempton Park in the Ekurhuleni municipality and established roadblocks after three partially naked bodies were found earlier this week. "We cannot continue picking up bodies," Mosikili told journalists.
Police announced a 400,000 rand ($25,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible, and the Democratic Alliance has added roughly $31,000 to that offer. Mosikili said investigators will determine whether Thursday's discovery is linked to the earlier deaths or if it reflects a copycat, and he confirmed a suspect arrested previously appeared in court on Wednesday. Authorities said the suspect is a foreigner, but did not disclose his nationality.
The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg published a safety advisory dated September 16 after eight deaths were reported over roughly two months in and around Ekurhuleni. The mission said a multidisciplinary team with specialised law-enforcement resources is working the cases and that investigators have identified concerning similarities in some incidents while stressing there is no established finding that a single perpetrator is responsible.
The advisory urged Nigerians, especially women and girls who live, work, study, exercise, socialise or travel through Kempton Park, Rhodesfield and nearby areas to avoid isolated or poorly lit places alone, vary routes and times, travel in groups where possible, and stay alert to their surroundings. It also warned against circulating unverified photographs or allegations that could prejudice investigations and harm innocent people.
The consulate provided a community line, +27627642412, and an email address, [email protected], for Nigerians directly affected by a serious incident. It said the notice is meant to inform and protect the community, not to restrict lawful movement, and it underlined that safety advice should not replace effective policing, investigation or accountability.
The mission cited Gauteng provincial crime statistics for January to March 2026, which recorded 1,223 murders, 2,369 sexual offences and 39,094 contact crimes against persons. It offered condolences to victims' families and urged anyone with credible information to report directly to the South African Police Service rather than sharing unverified material on social media. The probe is ongoing and authorities say they will continue to disclose developments as they emerge.
