South Africans hold memorial runs and protests after nine women killed near Johannesburg

South Africans gathered for memorial runs and protests this week after nine women were found dead in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, over the past two months. Police are investigating whether the killings are linked, noting that several victims were stripped and showed signs of sexual assault.

A run in Johannesburg on Saturday honored Elizabeth Moselakgomo, who disappeared while jogging and was later found dead. Participants lit candles and carried a banner that read “Enough. Stop Femicide.”

"We are here because we've lost a runner. But we are not safe anywhere," said Lerato Lentsela, who attended the run dressed in black. "We are not safe running, we are not safe at a post office, we are not safe on a date, we are not safe in our own homes, we are not safe in an Uber."

The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation, which campaigns against gender-based violence, said in a statement that women deserve to live, walk, run and exist without fear.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country cannot become accustomed to such violence and pledged that investigations would leave no stone unturned. However, policing challenges persist, with only about one in ten murders solved.

"We need to relook at our policing. The only reason these nine women were found was because there was more police presence in the area. This problem is countrywide," said Merlize Jogiat of Women for Change, which held a memorial event in Cape Town.

Women for Change also criticized police advice urging women to take extra precautions when exercising or walking alone, stating that safety should not be placed on women’s shoulders.

"Stop placing the responsibility of our safety back onto us. Women should not have to organise their entire lives around surviving violence and not being next," the group posted on social media.