Who She Was
Elizabeth Mokolo Moselakgomo, known to family and friends as “Tsontso,” was a 38-year-old mother living in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, in Gauteng, South Africa. Those close to her described her as a devoted mother, a churchgoer and choir member with the Zion Christian Church, and someone who loved music and running. Family spokesperson Andries Matlaila described her as the glue that held the family together. She left behind an eight-year-old daughter.
Running was central to her daily routine. A family friend described her as a dedicated, habitual runner, for whom jogging was valued personal time.
Timeline of Events
Wednesday, September 10, 2026 — Moselakgomo left her home in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, in the afternoon to go for a run and did not return. Her eight-year-old daughter contacted relatives after her mother failed to come home that evening, prompting the family to report her missing to police.
Following days — The South African Police Service (SAPS) intensified its search. National SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said police were following up on all available leads, including enquiries at hospitals and mortuaries, though these had not yielded results at the time.
Saturday, September 12, 2026 — A woman’s body was found in Rhodesfield that evening. Family spokesperson Genavieve Beukes told News24 the family could not confirm whether the body was Moselakgomo’s, because the face had sustained significant damage, and formal identification would have to wait for the government mortuary process.
Sunday, September 14, 2026 — SAPS confirmed that Moselakgomo’s family had positively identified her body at the Germiston government mortuary. She was the fifth woman connected to a string of cases investigators are examining for possible links.
The Broader Investigation
Moselakgomo’s death is one of several SAPS is investigating together. Four women’s bodies were found in the Gauteng area over a roughly two-month period, with a fifth — Moselakgomo — reported missing before her body was also found. Police have said there are concerning similarities between the cases, though they have stopped short of confirming a single perpetrator is responsible.
A multidisciplinary team has been mobilized to work the cases, including detectives, forensic specialists, tracking teams, K9 units, and the Investigative Psychology Unit. Provincial police leadership has been cautious about drawing firm conclusions, noting that while there are similarities in some circumstances, it would be premature to conclude the cases are definitely linked or the work of one perpetrator.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane addressed the family directly, extending condolences and committing that SAPS would do everything in its power to establish exactly what happened. Police have also issued a public safety warning to women in the Kempton Park area as the investigation continues.
Family and Community Response
Family members have described the days of uncertainty as agonizing, alternating between hope that the body found would not be Moselakgomo’s and the eventual, painful confirmation that it was. Her family is now finalizing funeral arrangements, with the ceremony expected to be held in Mpumalanga. Matlaila indicated the body remains with the state while investigations continue.
Why This Case Matters
Beyond the loss to one family, Moselakgomo’s death has become part of a wider public conversation in South Africa about women’s safety, particularly for women who run or exercise alone in their neighborhoods. The pattern of cases in and around Kempton Park has prompted police warnings and renewed scrutiny of how such disappearances are investigated and reported.