Members of a Johannesburg running club gathered on Saturday to commemorate one of their own, Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, whose body was discovered the previous week. The 38-year-old had gone missing three days earlier while running alone after work in the Sandton area. Her death adds to a wave of femicides affecting South Africa, with nine women’s bodies discovered across the Ekurhuleni municipality since mid-July, including six found in the preceding two weeks. Two of the victims remain unidentified, while arrests have been made in connection with two cases.
South Africa faces one of the world’s most severe femicide epidemics, with women killed at a rate of 12.2 per 100,000 people in 2022—nearly six times the global average according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. The crisis prompted the national government to declare gender-based violence a national emergency in November 2025. Across the country, demonstrations and organized gatherings have intensified calls for enhanced police action and governmental intervention.
At the Saturday gathering, club members stood in solidarity, with organizers highlighting the emotional and psychological toll the killing has taken on the group. Several runners described the pervasive fear affecting women in the country, with one participant noting that female runners previously exercised alone in early morning and evening hours, exposing themselves to significant danger. The club resumed organized runs earlier in the week following Moselakgomo’s identification, with members describing the gathering as a crucial moment for communal healing.
Families of other victims are struggling with their losses. Relatives described the disturbing condition of discovered remains and the ongoing trauma of identifying loved ones. At Moselakgomo’s televised funeral, her young daughter delivered a statement expressing the profound grief of losing her mother. Male members of the running club also spoke publicly about the need for men to take responsibility in addressing violence against women and supporting community safety efforts.
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