A series of killings targeting women in and around Johannesburg, South Africa, has reignited public fear and frustration over the country’s ongoing crisis of gender-based violence and femicide. Since July, the bodies of eight women have been discovered in the Ekurhuleni area, near OR Tambo International Airport. Most of the victims were found partially naked and showed signs of assault, with the first identified victim, a 37-year-old woman, found strangled with cable ties.

The most recent high-profile victim, Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old mother and avid runner, disappeared on September 9 while out on an evening run from her home in Kempton Park. Her body was found on September 16 and identified by family members. Her disappearance and death sparked widespread attention and social media outcry, with friends describing the country as unsafe for women. “In this country, we are prey,” wrote Sakane Mokoena, Moselakgomo’s friend and fellow runner, on Instagram.

Residents of Kempton Park and surrounding neighborhoods have expressed growing concerns for their safety. Rose Ncube, a local accountant, said she had stopped letting her daughters, aged 13 and eight, walk alone or play outside due to fear of violence. “It is not good for them to stay inside, but they are safer this way,” she said. This sentiment reflects a broader anxiety among South African communities where violence against women spans all social and racial groups.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest femicide rates, with 12.2 women killed per 100,000 people in 2022, nearly six times the global average, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence and femicide a national crisis in 2019, promising a national plan to address the issue. However, campaigners assert the government has fallen short in funding and implementing effective measures.

In response to the recent killings, Ramaphosa stated he had instructed law enforcement to prioritize investigations and leave “no stone unturned” in bringing perpetrators to justice. Police have urged women around Kempton Park to avoid walking or running alone, especially in isolated areas, and to travel in groups where possible. This advice has sparked backlash among advocacy groups like Women For Change, who argue that the burden of preventing violence should not fall solely on women. “We are tired of being told to be vigilant when women are already doing everything possible to stay alive,” they said.

Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a suspect in the July murder case of one of the victims—a boyfriend of the deceased woman—and are examining the possibility of a serial killer, although police spokespeople have stated that, as of now, there is no definitive evidence linking all the deaths to a single perpetrator.

The wave of violence has also prompted calls from campaigners and activists for greater accountability among men to confront and challenge gender-based violence. Bafana Khumalo, co-executive director of Sonke Gender Justice, emphasized the importance of men acknowledging their role in combating this societal issue. “We need, as men, to begin to face each other squarely and hold each other accountable,” he said.

The recent murders have sparked grieving and remembrance within the running community and beyond, with gatherings held in honor of Moselakgomo and other victims. Yet, the prevailing mood remains one of urgency and demand for more substantial government action to address the epidemic of violence facing South Africa’s women.