South Africa investigates surge of femicides in Johannesburg suburb
Nine women have been found murdered, most sexually assaulted, in the Kempton Park area of Johannesburg, prompting police warnings, protests and a pledge from President Cyril Ramaphosa to intensify the investigation.
Police in Johannesburg have linked nine recent murders of women, most of which involved sexual assault, to a single geographic area near the city’s airport. The latest victim, 38-year-old Elizabeth Moselakgomo, was found five days after she failed to return from an afternoon jog; her body was discovered partially clothed with severe facial injuries.
Authorities have not ruled out the involvement of a serial killer and have advised women to avoid walking or running alone. The advisory has drawn criticism on social media, with many women arguing that public safety is the responsibility of law-enforcement rather than individuals.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said that “no stone will be left unturned” in the search for those responsible, while Amnesty International’s South Africa director Shenilla Mohamed warned that women continue to be denied basic safety and called for concrete actions beyond statements.
Protests have been held in Kempton Park and Cape Town, and local running clubs organized memorial runs for the victims. One participant, 26-year-old Shari Maluluke, told NPR that gender-based violence makes it impossible for women to move freely. Another interviewee, 31-year-old Didi Tsitsi, said women now share their locations and use ride-hailing apps as precautionary measures, attributing the crisis to governmental failure, entrenched patriarchal attitudes and unresolved legacies of apartheid.