In the wake of a series of brutal murders, South African women are taking extra precautions to ensure their safety while exercising outdoors. Nancy Masha, a 39-year-old mother of two, has started carrying a knife and pepper spray on her daily jogs. This new ritual was born out of fear after the murder of Elizabeth Moselakgomo, a fellow runner whose body was found in Johannesburg's East Rand. Moselakgomo, 38, had left home on September 9 for a run and never returned, leaving behind her eight-year-old daughter.
The discovery of Moselakgomo's body, along with nine others in the same area, has sent shock waves across South Africa. The police are investigating whether a serial killer or killers are responsible for the murders. The victims, including Moselakgomo, were found partially naked and battered. Masha, who had once taken part in a marathon with Moselakgomo, described her as "bubbly". The murders have triggered vigils, protests, and solidarity runs across the country, drawing hundreds of people from Kempton Park to Cape Town to honour the victims and demand action to protect women.
The killings have heightened concerns among women already accustomed to taking precautions in their daily lives. Chulumanco Mahamba, 31, has cut back her daily walks to twice a week and now avoids secluded routes. She shares her live location with loved ones before leaving home and sends photographs of what she is wearing. Mahamba already carried pepper spray as a precaution, but the recent killings have made her more cautious. The government has declared gender-based violence a national disaster, but the problem persists.
The government said its 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Command Centre received 6,782 distress calls between September 1 and 16, averaging 424 a day, a 21-percent increase from the same period in August. The killings have sparked a national conversation about women's safety, with many calling for greater action to protect them. President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the situation as a "national shame", saying that women have the right to walk the streets of their country at any hour without fear.
Not all women feel comfortable carrying a weapon, however. Hlompho Matji, 47, a data analyst and runner, expressed concerns about carrying pepper spray or a knife. "We are not trained to use those things," she said. "It's also a risk to carry pepper spray because someone could overpower you and use it against you." Babalwa Melitafa, 46, prefers to run only within a gated community's sports oval, citing fear of the recent killings.
Even in Cape Town, women said the killings had altered their routines. Filmmaker Andiswa Siwela, 43, a runner and mountain hiker, now takes pepper spray with her, which she previously left in her car. "We want to be free. We want to do things without fear; we want to live," she said. Nkululeko Molosi, 47, captain of the Sunrise Athletics Club, said runners should not have to "choose between our passion for the sport and our personal safety".
South African police have arrested three people in connection with the Kempton Park killings, but concerns remain. A man is in custody for one of the murders, and two women have been charged over another. The arrests have done little to ease concerns, with many women continuing to take precautions to ensure their safety.
Key points
- The recent murders have sparked a national conversation about women's safety in South Africa.
- Women are taking precautions such as carrying pepper spray and knives to ensure their safety while exercising outdoors.
- The government has declared gender-based violence a national disaster, but the problem persists.
