Kempton Park – Motorists in Kempton Park have been left unsettled after a bouquet of red and white flowers and a rope noose were found hanging from a railway bridge in Esselen Park, amid heightened fears following a series of women’s deaths in the area.
According to The Citizen, the unusual display was spotted on a railway bridge along the R25, with traffic slowing as motorists passed the scene.
The publication said the meaning and origin of the display were unclear, while authorities have urged motorists to exercise caution.
A separate report by Kempton Express confirmed that several motorists had reported seeing the flowers and noose hanging from the bridge.
“The circumstances surrounding the display, including who placed it there and what it is intended to represent, are currently unclear,” the local publication reported.
The disturbing discovery comes as police investigate a series of killings involving women whose bodies have been found in and around Kempton Park.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned women in the area to exercise extreme caution after four women’s bodies were discovered in the Kempton Park area over about two months.
Police said preliminary findings showed “concerning similarities” in some of the cases, including the locations where the bodies were found and visible bruising.
However, SAPS has cautioned against concluding that a serial killer is responsible.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe told SABC News that investigators were examining possible links between the cases.
“For now, nothing tells us that we’ve got a serial killer,” Mathe said.
Police have since established a dedicated multidisciplinary task team comprising specialised detectives and other investigative units to determine whether the deaths are connected and identify those responsible.
The latest developments have also prompted calls for residents to avoid spreading unverified claims on social media.
The discovery of the noose and flowers has not been linked by police to any of the murders, and there is currently no confirmed evidence that the display was intended as a threat.
Police investigations into the killings remain ongoing, while residents have been urged to remain vigilant and provide investigators with any information that could assist in the cases.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
