Women in South Africa are changing their daily routines after a series of killings in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, heightened fears about personal safety.
Some runners now avoid isolated routes. Others run only in gated communities or carry pepper spray and other items for protection.
The fear intensified after the murder of 38-year-old runner Elizabeth Moselakgomo. She left home for a run on September 9 and never returned.
Police later found her body in the Kempton Park area.
New Body Found in Ekurhuleni
The safety concerns took another turn on Sunday after police confirmed the discovery of another woman’s body in Springs, Ekurhuleni.
A security company vehicle spotted the body in an open field near Rhokana Road around midday. Police then mobilised a specialised team to the scene.
The task team includes detectives, crime scene specialists, investigative psychologists and Crime Intelligence officers.
Police have not yet established whether the latest discovery connects to the earlier killings. Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding each case.
Women Change Their Running Habits
The killings have prompted runners to reconsider how and where they exercise.
Nancy Masha, 39, said she now carries pepper spray and a knife when she runs. She made the change after Moselakgomo’s murder.
Masha had previously run alone without those precautions. She said the killing of a fellow runner left her deeply traumatised.
Other women have taken different measures.
Some have reduced the number of times they walk or run outdoors. Others share their live locations with relatives before leaving home.
Some also send photographs of their clothing to family members so they can identify what they are wearing.
The changes reflect a wider concern among women who say they should not have to restrict ordinary activities because of fear.
Not Everyone Supports Carrying Weapons
Some runners have questioned whether carrying weapons offers genuine protection.
Hlompho Matji, a 47-year-old runner, said women may not know how to use pepper spray or a knife effectively during an attack.
She also warned that an attacker could potentially overpower a woman and turn the weapon against her.
Other women have chosen safer environments instead.
Babalwa Melitafa said she now prefers to run inside a gated community rather than exercise alone outdoors.
Police Continue Investigation
South African police have arrested three people in connection with some of the Kempton Park killings.
However, authorities have not established that the cases form one connected series.
A man remains in custody over one murder, while two women face charges in another case.
Police have continued to investigate possible links between the killings while cautioning against drawing conclusions before investigators establish the facts.
The discovery of women’s bodies has nevertheless generated widespread concern across South Africa.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the suffering of women as a national crisis and said women should be able to move freely without fear.
For many runners, that freedom has already changed.
They are still running. But increasingly, they are doing so with new precautions, altered routes and greater awareness of their surroundings.
