South Africans gathered for memorial runs and protests this week after the killings of nine women near Johannesburg reignited anger and fear over violence that many say mirrors the dangers women face every day. The victims, mostly in their 20s and 30s, were found over the past two months in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg. Police are investigating whether the killings are linked, with some bodies found stripped of clothes and showing signs of sexual assault.
A memorial run in Johannesburg on Saturday morning honored one of the victims, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who disappeared after going for a run and was found dead days later. Runners lit candles and carried a banner reading "Enough. Stop Femicide." Lerato Lentsela, one of the participants, said, "We are here because we've lost a runner. But we are not safe anywhere. 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 killings have reignited anger over violence against women in South Africa, where gender-based violence was declared a national disaster in 2025. Many women say the heightened attention and official promises have done little to make them feel safer. The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation, a charity that campaigns against gender-based violence, said in a statement, "Enough is enough. Our women deserve to live, walk, run and exist without fear."
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday that South Africa could not allow itself to grow accustomed to such violence and pledged that no stone would be left unturned in the investigations. However, policing in South Africa is weakened by corruption and lack of resources, with only about one in 10 murders ever solved.
Some women also criticized police advice urging them to take extra precautions when exercising or walking alone. Merlize Jogiat of Women for Change said, "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." Women for Change held a memorial event in Cape Town on Friday.
The protests and memorial runs are a call to action for the government to do more to protect women. The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation and other organizations are pushing for more effective measures to prevent violence against women. The issue has sparked a national conversation about the safety of women in South Africa.
The government has faced criticism for its handling of the issue, with many saying that more needs to be done to address the root causes of violence against women. The protests and memorial runs are a reminder that the issue of violence against women remains a pressing concern in South Africa.
Key points
- The killings of nine women near Johannesburg have reignited anger over violence against women in South Africa.
- The government has pledged to investigate the killings, but policing in South Africa is weakened by corruption and lack of resources.
- The protests and memorial runs are a call to action for the government to do more to protect women.
