EKURHULENI – The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed that its official R400,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible for a series of murders in Ekurhuleni remains unchanged, despite an offer from the Democratic Alliance (DA) to contribute an additional R500,000.
The investigation centres on the discovery of the bodies of nine women found at different locations across the Ekurhuleni municipality since July 2026. The cases have raised widespread concern among residents and prompted a large-scale police investigation involving specialised detectives.
In an effort to encourage members of the public to come forward, SAPS announced a R400,000 reward for credible information that results in arrests and successful prosecution. Shortly afterwards, the DA announced that it was prepared to contribute R500,000, arguing that the combined reward of R900,000 could encourage more witnesses to assist investigators.
However, SAPS has rejected the proposal to combine the two rewards.
Police leadership stated that official rewards administered by the state are governed by strict legal and financial protocols. According to SAPS, political party contributions cannot be incorporated into the official police reward system, meaning the state-administered reward will remain at R400,000.
The DA has maintained that its offer reflects the urgency of the investigation and the need to assist in bringing those responsible to justice. Despite the disagreement over the reward structure, both SAPS and the DA have urged anyone with information to report it immediately.
Investigators continue to examine possible links between the murders while forensic teams process evidence recovered from multiple crime scenes. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether all nine deaths are connected, and investigations remain ongoing.
Police have appealed to community members not to spread unverified information on social media, warning that speculation could hinder the investigation. Anyone with credible information is encouraged to contact SAPS through the Crime Stop hotline or report anonymously via official police channels.
As the investigation continues, authorities hope that public cooperation will provide the breakthrough needed to identify and arrest those responsible for the deaths that have shaken communities across Ekurhuleni.
