South Africa femicide crisis 2026
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Women protest after string of murders near Johannesburg
Runners gathered in South Africa to pay tribute to Elizabeth Moselakgomo after her body was found east of Johannesburg.
Nonhle Mpohlo said they just want to live and go running and come back home without having to think that it may be one of them.
The police have set up a task team to investigate the murders.
“This is for her - we just want to live and go running and come back home without having to think that it may be one of us”
South Africans hold femicide vigil amid anger over murdered women
The bodies of nine women have been found near Johannesburg in two months.
Hundreds of people gathered at the University of Cape Town on Friday at a vigil for victims of femicide in South Africa.
Anger is rising across South Africa over femicide.
Bodies of nine women found in South Africa
The bodies of nine women have been found in South Africa's Ekurhuleni municipality over the past two months.
Police offered a reward of 400,000 rand ($25,000) for information leading to an arrest.
At least one suspect has been detained by police.
“Investigators are considering all possibilities, including the possibility of multiple suspects or separate perpetrators,”
Murdered women discoveries spark fear in South Africa
South Africa's police crime statistics show that 5,427 people were murdered between April and June 2024.
South Africa's government declared gender-based violence a national disaster in November 2025.
President Cyril Ramaphosa pledged to leave no stone unturned in investigating the crimes in Ekurhuleni.
Ekurhuleni killings of women spark fear in South Africa
Femicide is criminalized as a specific crime in 33 countries, including Gabon and Morocco.
Five of the nine recent bodies were found in Kempton Park, a district of Ekurhuleni.
The South African government declared gender-based violence a national disaster in November.
“It's clear that we are not safe, we cannot be told by the police to be more vigilant. They should be doing more to make our communities safe – what else are we expected to do? We are not safe anywhere, not in our homes, not in the streets, it needs to stop.”
South Africa battles femicide crisis
Moselakgomo was found dead three days later on September 12.
Police advice urging women not to walk or run alone and to avoid isolated areas following the killings prompted criticism.
Elizabeth Moselakgomo was a 38-year-old mother and runner who disappeared after leaving home in the Ekurhuleni municipality for her usual run at about 5:30 pm on September 9.