SHOCKING: 10th woman’s body found wrapped in duvet in Soweto

The discovery of a young woman’s body wrapped in a duvet in Moroka Dam, Soweto, has deepened concern over the deaths of women across Gauteng, just days after nine bodies were found in Ekurhuleni.

Authorities found the unidentified woman at about 17:00 on Sunday, 20 September 2026. They believe she was in her twenties.

Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said SAPS registered an inquest docket and are working to establish how she died and how her body ended up in the dam.

The Soweto discovery has been reported as the 10th woman’s body found amid the recent cases in Gauteng. Investigators have, however, not linked this case to the nine deaths under investigation in Ekurhuleni.

Soweto case remains separate

The circumstances surrounding the woman’s death remain unclear.

Investigators have not released her identity or disclosed whether they found any visible injuries.

They have appealed to anyone with information to contact their nearest police station, Crime Stop on 08600 10111, or submit an anonymous tip-off through the MySAPS app.

The latest discovery comes at a particularly sensitive time for Gauteng, where the deaths of nine women across Ekurhuleni since July have triggered an intensified investigation.

Eight of nine Ekurhuleni victims identified

By Sunday, authorities had positively identified eight of the nine women whose bodies were found across Ekurhuleni.

Among the women previously publicly identified were Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, Dineo Evelyn Motapane, 38, Itumeleng Kekana, 32, and Gracious Nkomo, 28.

Moselakgomo disappeared after leaving her Rhodesfield home for a run. Her death drew nationwide attention and prompted memorial runs and renewed calls for greater protection for women.

Motapane’s body was found along a road in KwaThema, Springs, while investigators added several other discoveries in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and Dawn Park to the broader investigation.

Three people questioned as investigation intensifies

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia revealed on Sunday that investigators had called in three persons of interest for questioning.

But he cautioned that investigators had not established that a serial killer was behind all nine deaths.

Cachalia said investigators had found indications of different methods and possible motives in some of the cases and were continuing to follow every lead.

That distinction remains important as authorities investigate the Soweto discovery.

Cameron cautions against premature links

Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson Ian Cameron had already warned against connecting the Ekurhuleni cases before investigators had established the evidence.

“We must be careful not to claim links that investigators have not established,” Cameron said on 15 September, when six cases had been reported.

He said SAPS had assembled a multidisciplinary team including specialist detectives, forensic experts, tracking resources, K9 units and investigative psychology.

Cameron also urged residents and businesses to preserve CCTV, dashcam and other footage that could help investigators piece together the movements of victims and possible suspects.

His remarks came before the Soweto discovery and were directed at the Ekurhuleni investigation. Police have not announced any connection between the Moroka case and those deaths.

Three arrested over Dawn Park murder

Monday brought another major development in the wider Ekurhuleni investigation.

The Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit arrested one man and two women over the weekend in connection with the murder of the ninth victim, whose body was found in Dawn Park, Boksburg.

The trio are expected to appear in the Boksburg Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 21 September.

SAPS said the arrests relate specifically to the Dawn Park case. Its Monday announcement did not say whether the arrested trio were the same three people Cachalia said investigators had questioned on Sunday.

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane said investigators were giving all nine Ekurhuleni murder cases priority attention.

The Soweto case, meanwhile, remains an inquest while investigators work to identify the woman and establish the circumstances surrounding her death.