A swift police operation has led to the arrest of a suspect in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was discovered at Mooifontein Cemetery in the Vusimusi section of Tembisa on Saturday, 26 September 2026.
The victim, Ntombifuthu Nxumalo, was found behind the cemetery near the Vusimusi informal settlement.
Investigators tracked the suspect to Tembisa before establishing that he had travelled to Limpopo. A multidisciplinary team comprising Ekurhuleni District Crime Intelligence, Tembisa South detectives and SAPS Head Office Investigations Psychology Services travelled to Mohlabaneng Village, where they enlisted the assistance of SAPS Bolobedu.
The suspect was located asleep in his room and arrested.
According to preliminary investigations, Nxumalo had been drinking at a local tavern with a female acquaintance before leaving with an unidentified man.
Residents living near the cemetery told investigators they heard a woman screaming and pleading for her life at about 23:00.
Police said Nxumalo was found naked and had sustained severe head injuries. Stones were discovered around her body, leading investigators to suspect that she may have been stoned to death. No visible stab wounds were observed at the scene.
Acting National Commissioner of SAPS, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, praised the coordinated efforts of the investigating team.
"I commend this multidisciplinary team for their swift response, coordination and determination, which resulted in the apprehension of the suspect on the same day. This is the kind of policing we expect from our members. We will continue to pursue perpetrators of murder and gender-based violence and femicide and ensure that they face the full might of the law," said Dimpane.
The arrest comes amid growing concern over several cases involving women whose bodies have recently been discovered across Ekurhuleni.
During a visit to the crime scene on Saturday, the *Lenasia Times Group of Newspapers* interviewed Gauteng Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, who addressed public concerns over whether the incidents could be linked.
Mthombeni said a dedicated team had been assembled to investigate the cases and that progress was being closely monitored.
He explained that specialist resources, including investigative psychologists, were assisting detectives with victimology studies and behavioural analysis to better understand the circumstances surrounding the crimes and identify those responsible.
Police have also announced a R400,000 reward for information that could assist in solving the cases.
Mthombeni said the response extends beyond SAPS, with a Joint Operational Centre established in Kempton Park to coordinate intelligence, deployments and investigations. The operation includes collaboration between law enforcement agencies, community structures, non-governmental organisations and business crime-prevention initiatives.
He also urged families to report missing persons immediately.
"There is no waiting period to report missing persons," he said.
Mthombeni noted that people often travel between provinces in search of employment and may lose contact with relatives, making it vital for concerns to be reported without delay.
Addressing speculation that the cases may be linked to a serial offender, Mthombeni cautioned against drawing premature conclusions.
While investigators have identified similarities in some of the cases, he said police must first establish clear evidential links before determining whether one perpetrator is responsible.
"We cannot conclusively say there is a serial killer," Mthombeni said, adding that police could also not rule out the possibility while investigations remain ongoing.
He further warned against comparing the current investigations to notorious serial murder cases of the past, noting that those matters had already been investigated and successfully prosecuted.
At the time of the interview, Mthombeni emphasised that the Mooifontein murder investigation was still in its early stages and that detectives would continue working to determine whether it is connected to other cases under investigation.
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in the Mooifontein murder investigation, while police continue to pursue all available leads in a broader effort to establish whether any links exist between the cases reported across Ekurhuleni.
The suspect is expected to appear in court as investigations continue.
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