JUST IN: Kempton Park killings – Third victim identified as Dineo Motapane

Police have identified 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane as the third woman among the eight deaths under investigation across Ekurhuleni.

Motapane’s family positively identified her body at the Springs Mortuary on Wednesday afternoon after police found her on the side of the road in KwaThema, Springs.

Her relatives told police they last saw her alive on Sunday.

They had not yet reported her missing when officers found her body.

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane sent her condolences to the Motapane family and said police had intensified the investigation into the deaths of the eight women.

THREE WOMEN NOW IDENTIFIED

Motapane becomes the third publicly identified victim in the widening investigation.

Police have also confirmed the identities of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38, and Itumeleng Kekana, 32.

Moselakgomo disappeared after leaving her Kempton Park home for a run. Her family later identified her body after police found her in the area.

Kekana’s family also formally identified her this week after she had previously been reported missing.

Police are still working to identify the remaining women.

POLICE STEP UP INVESTIGATION

Dimpane said a multidisciplinary team of detectives and specialists continues to work on the cases.

Investigators are trying to establish what happened to each woman, identify those responsible and determine whether any of the deaths are connected.

Police have not confirmed that one person killed all eight women.

The cases have surfaced across several parts of Ekurhuleni, including Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, Clayville and KwaThema.

SAPS has increased its presence in the area and deployed additional investigative resources as pressure mounts for answers.

FAMILY HAD NOT REPORTED DINEO MISSING

Motapane’s family had not opened a missing-person case before police discovered her body.

Police have not yet disclosed the circumstances surrounding her death or whether investigators have found evidence linking her case to any of the others.

Dimpane assured the family and community that officers remain on the ground and will continue pursuing those responsible.