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Stuff from Johannesburg

Kempton Park Murders: Search Intensifies

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has vowed that the SAPS will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that those responsible for the murders of women in Gauteng are identified, traced and brought to justice.

This follows the discovery of a fifth body in Gauteng today, as investigations into a number of cases involving the deaths of women in the Kempton Park area continue.

Lieutenant General Dimpane has also expressed her deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, whose body was positively identified today at the Germiston mortuary by her family.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of Elizabeth during this extremely painful time. The loss of a loved one under such circumstances is devastating, and we assure the family that the SAPS will do everything within its powers to establish exactly what happened to Elizabeth and to ensure that those responsible are held accountable,” said Lieutenant General Dimpane.

The Acting National Commissioner has directed the multidisciplinary team comprising detectives and other specialised policing resources to intensify the investigation into these cases.

The team is working around the clock to establish the circumstances surrounding each death, analyse available evidence, identify possible linkages where they exist, and pursue all leads that may assist in bringing the investigations to a successful conclusion.

Lieutenant General Dimpane has further assured the public that the SAPS remains fully committed to protecting women and bringing perpetrators of violence against women to justice.

“We will not rest until we have established the truth. Where there is evidence linking individuals to these crimes, we will pursue them relentlessly and ensure that they face the full might of the law,” said Lieutenant General Dimpane.

Thus far one suspect has been arrested in connection with the discovery of the first body in July. The suspect is still in custody.

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The Oriental Plaza: A Phoenix in Fordsburg

If Johannesburg is a city of forced displacements, the Oriental Plaza is its most resilient response. While the Rand Club was built for the elite and Ponte for the “jet-set,” the Oriental Plaza was born from the trauma of the Group Areas Act—a piece of Apartheid legislation designed to geographically separate the races. Yet, in true Johannesburg fashion, what was intended as a tool of containment and financial ruin for the Indian community transformed into one of the most vibrant, independent commercial powerhouses in the country.

The story of the Plaza begins with the destruction of Pageview, affectionately known as Fietas. In the mid-20th century, Fietas was a legendary multicultural hub, centered around the bustling 14th Street. It was the city’s premier destination for textiles, clothing, and spices, where shoppers of all races would rub shoulders in a “jazzy, soulful” atmosphere. However, because Fietas was located so close to the white-only city center, the Apartheid government declared it a “white area” in 1962. The community fought back for decades, but by the 1970s, the bulldozers arrived. Homes were leveled, and the thriving traders of 14th Street were forcibly relocated to a purpose-built, modernist complex a kilometer away in Fordsburg: the Oriental Plaza.

The government’s intent was cynical: by moving the traders into a controlled environment with high state-mandated rents and strict rules on what could be sold, they hoped to break the back of Indian commercial dominance. The early years were devastating; many businesses folded, and the “Grand Bazaar” felt like a sterile warehouse compared to the street-level energy of Fietas. However, the traders refused to vanish. They eventually won the right to purchase their own shops, making the Oriental Plaza unique among South African malls because it is owned by the shopkeepers themselves rather than a corporate landlord. This ownership model changed everything. Without the burden of massive monthly mall rentals, the 360+ independent stores can offer prices that national retailers cannot touch, turning the Plaza into a “bargain-hunter’s paradise” that draws millions of visitors a year.