Nine women killed in South Africa as citizens protest against violence

The discovery of the bodies of nine women in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, has prompted protests and memorial gatherings in South Africa this week, once again drawing attention to violence against women.

Police found the nine bodies over the past two months. Authorities are investigating whether the killings are connected. Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s, while some were found without clothes and with signs of suspected sexual assault.

On Saturday morning, dozens of people gathered in Johannesburg for a memorial run dedicated to Elizabeth Moselakgomo, one of the women who was killed. She had been reported missing after going out for a run, and her body was found several days later.

Those attending wore black, lit candles and unfurled a banner that read: “Enough. Stop femicide.”

The cases have renewed anger over gender-based violence in South Africa, a phenomenon that was classified as a national disaster in 2025. According to women’s rights organizations, the authorities’ pledges and actions have failed to make women feel safer.

On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said society could not accept this kind of violence as normal. He promised that the authorities would fully investigate the cases.

Meanwhile, civil society organizations accuse the police of struggling with a lack of resources and corruption. Activists say that only about one in 10 murders in the country is solved.

Merlize Jogiat, a representative of the organization Women for Change, called for a review of how the police operate. According to her, the nine women were found only because of an increased police presence in the area.

Activists have also criticized police advice urging women to take additional safety precautions when going out alone to walk or run.

“Stop placing the responsibility for our safety on us,” the organization said, stressing that women should not have to structure their daily lives around the fear of violence.