South African authorities have confirmed the death of a woman who disappeared while out on her regular run last week, prompting a widespread search and renewed concerns over the safety of women in the country.
Relatives of Elizabeth Moselakgomo formally identified her remains on Monday, two days after her body was discovered in an area east of Johannesburg.
Her death came amid the discovery of five women’s bodies in Kempton Park, with the victims reportedly found partially undressed and showing signs of bruising.
Police have cautioned against drawing conclusions that the deaths are connected to a serial killer. However, officers acknowledged that the “similarities are sufficiently concerning… to issue a public warning”.
A fellow runner who knew Moselakgomo through their running club described the situation as “very scary” following the discovery of the five bodies.
“It’s sad to know that every woman in South Africa… can’t just go outside. You can’t just go to the shop and buy flowers… because you are always in danger,” said Keamo Sefularo.
Authorities have advised women living in and around Kempton Park against going out alone on foot, particularly when walking or running in secluded locations. Police specifically urged women to avoid such activities “particularly in isolated areas”.
South Africa continues to face exceptionally high levels of gender-based violence (GBV). UN Women estimates that women in the country are killed at a rate five times higher than the worldwide average.
Moselakgomo’s remains were recovered on Saturday night, with police reporting that she had suffered extensive bruising and was only partially clothed when found.
Another woman was discovered dead several hours earlier on Monday, approximately 25km (15 miles) from where Moselakgomo’s body was located.
The second body was noticed by a passer-by who encountered it while travelling to work, police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe told journalists gathered at the scene.
Police have arrested one person in relation to the discovery of the first body. The suspect remains in police custody as investigations continue.
A dedicated police task team has now been formed to investigate the deaths. The series of disturbing discoveries, together with the confirmation of Moselakgomo’s death, has intensified public anger and heightened concerns about women’s security across South Africa.
Following confirmation of her death, tributes were shared widely for the keen runner, who was affectionately known as “Tsontso”. The case also prompted South Africans to speak openly about the fear and uncertainty many women experience in their daily lives.
Writing on X, Lesedi Ledwaba said: “Women are not free if we have to calculate where, when and with whom we can walk, run or exist safely”.
Sefularo said Moselakgomo’s disappearance had been “heavy for the club”, reflecting the emotional impact her death had on fellow runners.
The 29-year-old questioned whether Moselakgomo’s fate might have been different if she had been accompanied by a small running group, asking whether she would “still be here if maybe she had a small community to run with [or] one or three people”?
“As we always say, when we go out for runs, there’s safety in numbers,” she reflected.
Sefularo also outlined precautions she personally follows when running, such as changing her route rather than repeatedly using the same roads and choosing locations where visibility is good.
Women for Change, an advocacy organisation, expressed anger over the discovery of the bodies and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
“What is the purpose of having a protective service like the police if we have to make sure… we are [protecting] ourselves,” the group’s Merlize Jogiat asked.
Jogiat attributed much of the failure to tackle gender-based violence to inadequate enforcement of existing laws. She argued that sustained public pressure and “pressure in numbers” could help force meaningful action.
Moselakgomo’s relatives expressed gratitude to members of the public who joined efforts to locate her. The family also praised her eight-year-old daughter, who raised concerns and helped draw attention to her mother’s disappearance.
Police have not yet established the identities of the other women whose bodies were discovered in the area.
