The body of Elizabeth Moselakgomo, a missing runner, was discovered east of Johannesburg on Saturday, confirming her death. Her family identified her on Monday. Moselakgomo is one of five women whose bodies have been found in Kempton Park, an area near Johannesburg, all of whom were found half-naked and bruised. While police have not officially linked the deaths to a serial killer, they have issued a public warning due to the similarities between the cases. A fellow runner who knew Moselakgomo described the discovery of the five bodies as "very scary," highlighting the growing concern over the safety of women in the region.
Keamo Sefularo, a member of Moselakgomo’s running club, expressed fear that women in South Africa cannot go outside without worrying about their safety. Police have advised women in Kempton Park to avoid walking or running alone, especially in isolated areas. South Africa has some of the world's highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV), with the rate of women being killed five times higher than the global average, according to UN Women. Moselakgomo’s body was found badly bruised and partially clothed. Just hours before her identification, another woman’s half-naked body was discovered about 25 kilometers away.
The latest body was found by a passer-by on his way to work, according to police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe. One arrest has been made in connection with the discovery of the first body, and the suspect remains in custody. A special task team has been established to investigate the murders, which have reignited public outrage and fear across South Africa. Tributes poured in for Moselakgomo, affectionately known as "Tsontso." Lesedi Ledwaba, a community leader, emphasized that women are not truly free if they have to constantly calculate where, when, and with whom they can safely walk, run, or live.
Sefularo noted that Moselakgomo’s disappearance had been "heavy for the club" and questioned whether she would still be alive if she had run with a small community. She stressed the importance of "safety in numbers" during runs and shared personal safety measures, such as avoiding the same route daily and running in areas with good visibility. Advocacy group Women for Change expressed anger over the recent discoveries and questioned the effectiveness of protective services like the police. Merlize Jogiat of the group attributed the failure to curb GBV to poor implementation of laws and suggested that public pressure could be a way forward. Moselakgomo’s family thanked the public for their support in searching for her and praised her eight-year-old daughter for raising the alarm about her disappearance. Authorities have yet to identify the remaining bodies.
Five Women Found in Similar Circumstances in South Africa Spark Outcry
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