South Africans mourn nine women killed near Johannesburg
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| Johannesburg, South Africa. FILE PHOTO. Aerial view of the city. The image is illustrative and does not depict the reported killings. |
JOHANNESBURG — September 19, 2026
South Africans have held memorial runs, vigils and protests after the deaths of nine women near Johannesburg renewed anger over violence against women. The killings have also raised concerns about whether authorities are doing enough to protect women and investigate serious crimes.
Police have found the bodies of nine women in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, over the past two months. Investigators are examining whether the killings are connected. Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s, and some were found without clothes and with signs of sexual assault.
A memorial run in Johannesburg on Saturday honored Elizabeth Moselakgomo, one of the victims. She disappeared after going for a run and was found dead several days later. Participants wore black, lit candles and carried a banner calling for an end to femicide.
The killings have intensified public concern over gender-based violence in South Africa. The country declared gender-based violence a national disaster in 2025, but many women say official attention and previous promises have not made them feel safer.
The Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation, which campaigns against gender-based violence, said women should be able to live and move around without fear. President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa could not become accustomed to such violence and pledged that investigators would pursue the cases fully.
The deaths have also renewed scrutiny of policing. Corruption and limited resources have weakened law enforcement, while only about one in 10 murders is solved, according to previous crime data cited in the source material.
Merlize Jogiat of Women for Change, which held a memorial event in Cape Town, said stronger policing was needed across the country. She said increased police presence in the area had helped authorities find the nine women, highlighting what she described as a wider national problem.
Some women have also criticized police advice telling them to take additional precautions when exercising or walking alone. Women for Change said such guidance can shift responsibility for preventing violence onto women rather than addressing the people who commit violent crimes.
The latest protests reflect continuing public pressure for stronger action against violence against women. As investigations into the nine deaths continue, campaigners are calling for better policing and greater accountability.
