South Africa Runner Murder: 9 Bodies Found

In addition to participating in national protests against gender-based violence and murders of women, the South African running community has expressed their condolences for Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, 38 years old, who was murdered following the discovery of nine women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni.

Incident in Ekurhuleni

There have been discoveries of nine bodies in Ekurhuleni in the last two months. Majority of victims were in their 20s and 30s, while some were found in naked condition and with traces of sexual assault. It has been suggested by investigators that certain similarities in some of the cases are alarming; however, there are no confirmed instances of involvement of any one individual or a gang in the murders.

The ninth victim was found in Dawn Park in Boksburg on September 17. After this discovery, police have made arrests of three individuals – a man and two women – who have been charged with murder of the ninth victim. However, there are no confirmed links of the three suspects to the other eight murders.

Who is Elizabeth Moselakgomo?

Moselakgomo, nicknamed as “Tsontso”, was a 38-year-old mother and an avid runner. She went missing on September 9 after she left her house in Kempton Park for her regular afternoon run.

In fact, the death was particularly significant to the running community in Johannesburg. On September 19, there was a commemorative run in which runners in black outfits participated, lit candles and held a placard bearing the inscription “Enough. Stop Femicide”.

Also worth mentioning are Dineo Evelyn Motapane, who was 38 years old at the time; Itumeleng Kekana, aged 32; and Gracious Nkomo, aged 28. However, according to the police, other victims’ identities were established but their names have not been released publicly.

Why Are These Killings Sparking National Outrage?

The murder of the women has brought to the fore fears concerning the safety of women in South Africa where the cases of gender-based violence and femicide were declared a national disaster in November 2025 in accordance with the Disaster Management Act. Thus, the focus was put on the actions of the authorities in matters of law enforcement and security.

According to the participants of the memorial run in memory of Moselakgomo, the danger affects not only running but travel, work and being out on the streets. Women’s rights organizations share the same viewpoint.

What Are Police Doing?

The South African authorities have formed an inter-disciplinary investigating team that will look into the deaths and see whether there is any connection between them. Also, senior police officers have joined the investigation.

The Police Minister, Firoz Cachalia, has urged people not to rush into thinking that a serial killer is behind the deaths. Different theories are being investigated, such as that of different individuals with different motivations.

While paying tribute to Moselakgomo through memorials, the family members, fellow runners, and the general public are calling for an explanation. It will now be determined by the investigations whether the deaths are linked or not in light of the broader struggle with gender-based violence in South Africa.

FAQs

How many female corpses have been discovered in Ekurhuleni?

There have been discoveries of nine female bodies in Ekurhuleni for around two months.

Was Elizabeth Moselakgomo among the nine deceased females?

Yes. She is a 38-year-old running enthusiast who went missing after an afternoon run on September 9 and was subsequently found dead.

Are there connections among all nine cases?

There are no known connections between all the nine cases; however, investigators are looking into any possible connections without ruling out other murderers and motives.