Nine Women Murdered in South Africa Spark National Outrage and Calls for Action
A series of murders involving nine women found near Johannesburg since July has triggered national protests and intensified demands for legal recognition of femicide, while police investigate potential links between the cases.
National outrage has erupted in South Africa following the discovery of the bodies of nine murdered women in the Ekurhuleni region near Johannesburg since July. The incidents have led to widespread protests and heightened pressure on the government to address gender-based violence.
Among the victims is Elizabeth Moselakgomo, known as 'Tsontso', who went missing during a routine run before her body was found east of Johannesburg. In response, runners gathered in Centurion to honour her memory and defend women's right to exercise freely without fear.
Other identified victims include Dineo Motapane, a 38-year-old mother whose battered and partly burned body was discovered in Ekurhuleni after she was last seen on a Sunday. Itumeleng Kekana, a 32-year-old shopkeeper who disappeared in July, was also among those killed; her badly bruised body was found 17 days later dumped on a bridge.
The South African Police Service has established a task team to investigate the murders. Authorities have urged women in the Kempton Park area to avoid walking or running alone in isolated locations. While one arrest was made two days after the first body was discovered on 15 July, police remain uncertain whether the cases are linked or involve a serial killer.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to leave "no stone unturned" in the investigation. The killings have amplified calls from organizations such as Amnesty International, which is advocating for femicide to be recognized as a separate crime in South Africa. Currently, femicide is criminalized as a specific offense in 33 other countries.
These recent events occur against a backdrop of high rates of gender-based violence in the country. Figures from the South African Human Rights Commission indicate that 569 women were killed between April and June this year, averaging six deaths per day. During the same period, there were 1,052 attempted murders against women.