Following the discovery of eight women's bodies in the Ekurhuleni area, South Africans took to the streets, holding silent marches and runs as a sign of mourning, stating that the situation has reached a breaking point. The police are preparing for a large-scale intensification of operations in Kempton Park and surrounding areas.
The public, from Gauteng to the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, united in grief and fear to pay tribute to the deceased and demand action to prevent further victims.
Gauteng Governor, Panyisa Letsufi, announced on Tuesday evening at a press briefing that the province has requested additional assistance as the police prepare to intensify operations and impose restrictions in Kempton Park and its vicinity.
However, a Gauteng government representative, Elijah Mkhlanga, stated on Wednesday that he could not provide further comments while the police investigation is ongoing.
Crime expert Yusuf Abramjee explained that the term 'lockdown' should be understood as an intensification of law enforcement activity, not a complete ban on movement in Kempton Park. He emphasized that residents should not expect schools, shopping malls, businesses, or workplaces to close, but should anticipate increased police presence, patrolling, intelligence gathering, selective checks, and the work of specialized units under the expanded Channel Operation.
Abramjee noted that the goal must be twofold: preventing new attacks and, equally importantly, gathering evidence to identify and arrest those responsible for these horrific murders. He warned that a short-term surge in police activity would be insufficient, requiring a 'highly visible, intelligence-led, and sustained' response.
He added that increased police visibility can have a deterrent effect, but this must be accompanied by arrests, forensic breakthroughs, intelligence-led operations, and successful prosecutions. 'Ultimately, residents want to see action, not just announcements. The eight women whose bodies were found deserve justice, and the residents of Ekurhuleni deserve to feel safe in their communities.'
The police reaction came against a backdrop of ordinary South African citizens continuing to demand greater safety outside Kempton Park.
Activist Jessica Ford, founder of the Jess Ford Foundation, noted that the death of Elizabeth 'Tsonthso' Moselakgomo highlighted the fears women face when carrying out everyday tasks. She stated: 'The horrifying reality of violence against women in South Africa is knowing that it could be you next—not because you did something reckless, but while doing something as ordinary as jogging in your own neighborhood.'
Ford insisted on the need to discuss practical safety measures but cautioned against placing the responsibility for preventing violence on women themselves. She also pointed out that women in underserved communities experience fear during routine commutes, including trips to taxis or short journeys to work. She added that preventative work should include conversations with boys and young men about consent, respect, boundaries, and healthy masculinity, while authorities must address overgrown areas, poor lighting, and unsafe public spaces.
In Cape Town, 24-year-old stylist and activist Jemina Madonna organized a silent march near the Cape of Good Hope Castle on Wednesday following repeated reports of women's bodies being found in Gauteng. Madonna stressed that the murders cannot be viewed as solely a Gauteng problem, as the bodies were found there. She added that, being active on social media, it is impossible to focus on desired content when every scroll brings news of a discovered corpse.
In Gauteng, runners gathered on Tuesday morning to pay tribute to Moselakgomo, whose disappearance and death shocked the running community. Betuel Mangena from Stallion Running Club stated that the meeting was intended to show that women should not have to choose between safety and passion for running. He noted that 'Tsonthso embodies the collective experience of all women, including mothers, wives, and sisters,' and called for increased visibility of police and private security along running routes.
Runners in KwaZulu-Natal also took to the streets in memory of Moselakgomo and other runners. A 5km run started at 5 am from Florida Road; participants wore black in solidarity with Moselakgomo and victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). One participant said: 'It is very important for me to come out today, firstly because tomorrow I could be next.'
Before her death, Moselakgomo was a member of Team Vitality and recently completed the Wanderers 21km race. Discovery Vitality urged team members to wear pink and join group runs in Team Vitality zones on Thursday and Saturday, September 17 and 19, as well as parkruns on Saturday morning. The running community also supported Moselakgomo's family through the BackaBuddy campaign, raising R84,533 by Wednesday morning, exceeding the initial target of R50,000.
In addition to the mourning events, the National Council on GBVF demanded justice for the women whose bodies were found in Ekurhuleni. The council expects thorough investigations, timely forensic analysis, and properly secured court proceedings. It intends to request an official briefing from SAPS and relevant provincial and municipal authorities regarding the cases and the measures being taken. The council stated: 'This is unbearable, and it is not inevitable. The council demands justice.'
The council also appealed to families of missing loved ones in Gauteng to report to SAPS and the Gauteng Department of Health for DNA identification, as the women remain unidentified. The police urge residents to provide information that may aid the investigation and warn against spreading unverified claims, especially accusations that the deaths are the work of a serial killer or that specific individuals are responsible. Authorities have not confirmed that the eight cases are related.
National calls have also intensified demands for stricter measures. A petition on Change.org, launched on September 14, calls for the reinstatement of the death penalty for offenders convicted of femicide, and has currently gathered over 300,000 signatures.
