South Africa mourns as nine women found dead near Johannesburg
South Africa is grappling with renewed outrage and grief following the discovery of nine women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, prompting widespread memorial runs and protests, reports BritPanorama.
The police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the killings, which happened over the past two months and may be interconnected. Many victims were in their 20s and 30s, with several of them found stripped of clothes and showing signs of sexual assault.
A memorial event in Johannesburg on Saturday paid tribute to one of the victims, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who vanished after going for a run and was subsequently found dead several days later. Participants lit candles and carried banners with the message: “Enough. Stop Femicide.”
“We are here because we’ve lost a runner. But we are not safe anywhere,” said Lerato Lentsela, a participant clad in black.
She articulated a stark reality: “We are not safe running, we are not safe at a post office, we are not safe on a date, we are not safe in our own homes, we are not safe in an Uber.”
The wave of killings has intensified concerns over gender-based violence in South Africa, which was declared a national disaster in 2025. Many women feel that despite increased awareness and governmental pledges, little has changed in terms of personal safety.
“Enough is enough. Our women deserve to live, walk, run and exist without fear,” stated the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation, an advocacy group focused on combating gender-based violence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the crisis during a press conference, emphasizing that South Africa must combat such violence decisively and that thorough investigations would be undertaken.
However, the effectiveness of law enforcement remains in question, as South Africa’s police forces face issues of corruption and inadequate resources, with current reports indicating that only around 10% of murders are resolved.
“We need to relook at our policing. The only reason these nine women were found was because there was more police presence in the area. This problem is countrywide,” remarked Merlize Jogiat from Women for Change, who organised a memorial in Cape Town.
In the aftermath, some women have voiced their discontent with police recommendations that urge them to take extra precautions when exercising or walking alone.
“Stop placing the responsibility of our safety back onto us,” Women for Change stated on social media. “Women should not have to organise their entire lives around surviving violence and not being next.”
