The discovery of 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo’s body after she disappeared during an afternoon run has triggered anger across South Africa and reignited urgent debate about women’s safety.
Key takeaways
- Moselakgomo went missing while out running in the afternoon before her body was found.
- South African celebrities and activists have criticised authorities over the handling of warnings about possible danger in Kempton Park.
- Brenda Mtambo said recent reports had left her afraid to go to the gym.
- Police are examining whether several deaths in the Kempton Park area are connected, but no link has been confirmed.
- Residents in Johannesburg have been urged to avoid exercising or walking alone, particularly at dawn and after dark.
Stars speak out over women’s safety
As more information emerges about the deaths of women in and around Kempton Park, South African public figures and campaigners have used social media to express their anger and frustration.
Media personality Bridget Masinga questioned why the South African Police Service had apparently waited before alerting the public to a possible threat. She said residents should have been warned weeks earlier, giving women the opportunity to remain more alert and put additional safety precautions in place. In her view, the police response had been too slow.
Singer Brenda Mtambo said the latest reports had made her nervous about carrying out an everyday activity such as going to the gym. She questioned how women could feel secure in their own country after so many marches and awareness campaigns, describing the continuing violence as deeply frustrating.
Other emotional social media reactions condemned the country’s leadership and described the latest death as devastating. One post asked where South Africa’s leaders were, saying it was painful to see another life lost while perpetrators appeared to act without fear or consequence. The writer also said the violence was among the things they most hated about the country.
A separate reaction consisted of a tearful “Yhu” alongside crying-face emojis, conveying shock and grief over the news.
In another post directed at the police service, Masinga repeated her criticism that an alert about a suspected Kempton Park killer should have been issued much sooner. She urged authorities to speak up promptly whenever a neighbourhood may be unsafe so women can make informed decisions and protect themselves.
One frustrated message argued that the pattern was painfully familiar: a victim’s face would be widely shared, politicians would repeatedly invoke her name, and yet meaningful change would fail to follow.
Women in Johannesburg were also advised to take extra care after reports of a dangerous person allegedly targeting women in the area. The warning encouraged people not to walk or run by themselves, to travel in groups whenever possible—especially early in the morning or at night—and to watch out for one another.
Another post focused on the deeper causes of violence against women. It argued that the sense of entitlement some men hold over women is deeply embedded, with abuse, rape and other violence reflecting wider issues involving power, misogyny and learned conduct. The writer said these attitudes must be examined and unlearned, calling that the conversation society needs to have.
Police investigate circumstances of deaths
Authorities have not determined whether the recent deaths in Kempton Park are connected. National police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said investigators were working to establish what happened to Moselakgomo and remained committed to protecting women across the country.
Mathe said the investigation team was working continuously to reconstruct the circumstances of each death, assess the evidence available, look for links where they may exist and follow every lead that could help bring the separate investigations to a successful conclusion.
