The woman whose body was discovered beside a road in Kwa-Thema, Springs, has been formally identified as 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, as police continue investigations into the deaths of eight women in Ekurhuleni.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed that Motapane’s family positively identified her body at the Springs Mortuary on Wednesday afternoon, 16 September 2026.
According to her relatives, Motapane was last seen alive on Sunday, 13 September. She had not been reported missing before her body was discovered in Kwa-Thema on Tuesday.
Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane expressed her condolences to Motapane’s family following the identification. She also assured the family and the wider community that police are continuing to work on the cases and have intensified efforts to establish what happened to the victims.
A multidisciplinary team comprising investigators and specialists has been assigned to the cases. The team is working to determine the circumstances surrounding each woman’s death, establish whether there are links between the cases and identify those responsible.
Motapane is the latest of the eight women to be formally identified. Her identification follows those of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo and Itumeleng Kekana, whose identities were previously confirmed.
The deaths have prompted increased attention from law enforcement and government officials. Acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia announced a R400,000 reward for information that could lead to an arrest in connection with the cases.
The Democratic Alliance has separately offered an additional R500,000 reward for information that may assist investigators. Authorities are appealing to anyone with relevant information to come forward and assist the investigation.
Police have, however, stressed that the deaths of the eight women have not been conclusively linked. Investigators are treating the cases seriously while examining evidence to determine whether there are connections between them.
The cause and circumstances of Motapane’s death have not yet been disclosed, and investigators have not confirmed whether her death is connected to the other cases under investigation.
The identification of Motapane is expected to provide her family with some answers, while investigators continue working to establish the full circumstances surrounding her death.
Police have urged members of the public with information that could assist the investigation to report it to the relevant authorities. The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement works to establish the facts surrounding the deaths and determine whether any suspects can be identified and brought before the courts.
About the Author
