Police probe possible links after alleged Eersterust killer arrested
Gauteng police have not ruled out links to more cases after a man was arrested in Limpopo following the discovery of a woman's body in Eersterust near Pretoria.
Police were alerted to a shallow grave in Eersterust last Thursday and subsequently traced the suspect to Mentz village in Limpopo.
The 37-year-old suspect is expected to appear in court on Wednesday.
He was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning by a team comprised of members of the Limpopo Tracking Team, the Provincial Investigation Unit, Silverton Detectives, Tshwane FCS, and Tshwane District Detectives.
According to Gauteng police, further investigations revealed that the suspect is out on bail on an earlier rape charge - and is expected back in court for that matter in October.
It's alleged that the man would lure women to public spaces after meeting them on a dating app, and then invite them to walk with him to his house.
The suspect would then allegedly coerce the women to take a shortcut through a bushy area, where he would then attack them.
Police say that based on his alleged modus operandi, the suspect has been linked to at least two other rape cases.
The arrest takes place amid a probe into possible links to the discovery of four burnt bodies near the railway line in Denneboom.
DENNEBOOM BURNT BODIES
The partially burned body of a woman was discovered at Watloo train station, Stormvoel Street, in the Silverton policing precinct at around 3:30 pm on Monday.
READ: Police probing discovery of 4 burned bodies in Waltloo
Three other burned bodies were found between Waltloo and Denneboom train stations between June and July 2025.
According to police spokesperson Brenda Muridili, the first body was discovered on 12 June 2025.
The 35-year-old victim had been reported missing in Mamelodi, and her family has since come forward to identify and claim her remains.
On 23 July, a second body, which appeared to have suffered a similar fate, was discovered.
Four days later, police were alerted to the discovery of a third body.
Police say the two July victims have yet to be identified.
CALL FOR POSSIBLE VICTIMS TO COME FORWARD
The police have made a call to women who may have fallen prey to the alleged rapist, through the same modus operandi, to come forward.
This could assist investigators in establishing whether there is a link in the spate of rapes and killings.
"No one has been arrested yet, but the task team established to investigate the murders is working around the clock following possible leads to trace the perpetrators. The team comprises seasoned detectives, crime intelligence, forensic, and crime scene experts. Police are appealing to anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist in the apprehension of the suspects to please call the nearest police station or call Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Information can also be given anonymously via MySAPS App that can be downloaded from any smartphone," Muridili said.
In May this year, several women came forward following the murder of Olorato Mongale, allegedly by a syndicate that had been targeting and robbing women in several provinces.
READ MORE: Olorato case: KZN police uncover syndicate trail
Mongale was last seen going on a date with a potential suitor, who was later identified as Philangenkosi Makhanya.
Makhanya was killed during a shootout with police at his KwaZulu-Natal hideout. His alleged accomplice, Bongani Mthimkulu, is still on the run.
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