Action Society warns that the discovery of four women’s bodies in the same Kempton Park area within approximately two months exposes the deadly consequences of South Africa’s collapsed forensic DNA system. If the deaths are linked, a dangerous repeat offender may be targeting women while critical DNA evidence remains unprocessed or disconnected from earlier crimes.
The bodies were reportedly discovered in and around Rhodesfield, partially clothed or naked and with visible signs of violence. The latest was found on Saturday, 12 September 2026. Although the South African Police Service (SAPS) has not yet confirmed that the deaths are linked, the similarities were concerning enough for police to establish a dedicated multidisciplinary task team and warn women to exercise extreme caution.
“If these four women were murdered by the same person, we are dealing with a dangerous offender who is unlikely to stop until he is identified and arrested,” says Juanita du Preez, national spokesperson for Action Society. “He may also have offended before, leaving DNA evidence in earlier sexual offences, assaults or attempted murders. A functional forensic DNA database should help police follow that trail, connect the cases and identify him before another woman is killed.”
Action Society has repeatedly warned that dangerous repeat offenders may escape detection because DNA samples are not collected and processed as required.
In a press release published on 12 December 2023, Action Society reported that DNA analysis had identified 486 serial rapists among only 10 493 prioritised cases processed between July 2021 and May 2022. At least 4,6% of the sexual offenders identified in that sample were repeat offenders. Action Society warned at the time that repeat sexual offenders may escalate their crimes, ultimately leading to murder.
The crisis remained severe when Action Society published its latest comprehensive DNA findings on 4 June 2026. Based on the DNA Board’s reporting available at the time, approximately 175 500 DNA entries had exceeded their prescribed processing periods. Only 3,5% of buccal samples were processed within the legislated 30 days, while only 8,88% of routine DNA exhibits were completed within the required 35 days.
“The figures show just how important DNA evidence is in exposing repeat offenders,” says Du Preez. “In one group of prioritised cases alone, it helped identify 486 serial rapists. Yet the system that should be helping investigators find dangerous offenders is crippled by backlogs and delays.”
The compulsory collection of buccal samples from all qualifying Schedule 8 offenders is essential to building an effective National Forensic DNA Database. These profiles allow investigators to connect suspects to previous crimes, link cases committed in different areas and identify escalating patterns of violence.
Action Society demands that forensic evidence from all four Kempton Park scenes be processed as an immediate priority and compared with the National Forensic DNA Database. Investigators must also compare the evidence with unsolved sexual offences, assaults, attempted murders and murders in Kempton Park and elsewhere.
SAPS must further confirm whether usable DNA evidence was collected at each scene, whether the profiles have been processed and whether any matches with earlier unsolved crimes have been found.
Women have been advised not to walk or run alone and to avoid isolated places. While practical caution is warranted, the burden of preventing these crimes cannot simply be transferred to women.
“Women cannot be told to stay indoors, stop running alone and hope that they are not next,” Du Preez concludes. “SAPS must find whoever is responsible. If DNA evidence is allowed to disappear into the backlog, another woman may pay for that failure with her life.”
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