South African police arrest suspect with item belonging to murdered runner

South African police confirmed on October 12 that a suspect had been arrested after an item belonging to murdered runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo was found in their possession. No murder charge had been brought at that stage.

SABC reported that the suspect was expected in Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court on October 12 and was likely to face a charge involving possession of stolen property. The report did not identify the recovered item.

Moselakgomo went missing in September after leaving her Rhodesfield home for a run. Her body was subsequently found in the area. The investigation into her death continues.

National police explicitly distinguished the property-related arrest from a murder charge. The arrest alone does not establish that the suspect was involved in killing her.

In a September address, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research was assisting police with digital forensic work on the Ekurhuleni killings. He said police had not then established evidence that a single person was responsible for the women’s deaths.