A series of alarming discoveries near OR Tambo International Airport has left the South African public in mourning and fueled intense frustration over the state’s inability to address the country’s ongoing femicide crisis. Over the past several months, eight women have been found dead in the vicinity, with five of these victims discovered within the last week alone.
The disappearance of 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who vanished on September 9 while out for a run, triggered a massive search effort. Her eight-year-old daughter initially alerted family members when her mother failed to return, leading to a viral appeal. Sadly, authorities confirmed her death on Monday after her remains were recovered that Saturday.
Official records indicate a grim pattern: since July 15, four bodies were located in Kempton Park, situated directly across from the international airport. These victims were found in a partial state of undress and displayed signs of physical trauma. The investigation widened this week as two additional bodies were discovered in the town of Olifantsfontein, roughly 15 miles north, while a further discovery was made 25 miles to the south-east. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia confirmed on Wednesday that a body found in Olifantsfontein on September 7 is now included in the official investigation.
Despite the high number of incidents, police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe stated on Monday that there is currently no evidence to suggest a serial killer is responsible for all these deaths. One suspect, identified as the boyfriend of the first victim found in July, is already in police custody. However, the lack of a broader resolution has left many feeling abandoned.
South Africa continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest rates of violence against women. Recent data shows that in the year ending March 31, 2024, more than 27,600 people were killed nationwide, with 5,578 of those victims being women. Although President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the situation a national crisis last November, campaigners argue that the government has failed to implement concrete, effective safety measures.
Police have advised women in the Kempton Park area to avoid running or walking alone and to exercise in groups. This suggestion has been met with harsh criticism from groups like Women For Change, who argue that women are already doing everything possible to remain safe. “In this country, we are prey,” remarked Sakane Mokoena, a friend of Moselakgomo, while activists echoed the sentiment that the burden of safety should not fall on the victims.
Bafana Khumalo, co-executive director of Sonke Gender Justice, emphasized that men must take a more active role in curbing this violence. He noted that men frequently ignore these issues, whereas they should be holding one another accountable to stop the cycle of harm. As communities across the country organize events to honor the victims, there is a mounting push for both the police and government to prioritize these investigations and ensure systemic protection for all women. The report also notes that all were half-naked and with visible bruising. The report also notes that after hundreds of women protested on the eve of the G20 summit in Johannesburg in November 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared it a national crisis. The report also notes that with many runners noting they already took precautions, such as sharing routes. “We are tired of being told to be vigilant when women are already doing everything possible to stay alive,” said the advocacy group Women For Change, south African women responded with anger at the idea that they had to be responsible for their own safety. The report also notes that “It should not take a missing woman, a desperate family, runners and communities searching, and a case going viral, before an area is searched with this intensity,” the group said. The report also notes that “You have excuses like ‘No, it’s not my business’. The report also notes that we need, as men, to begin to face each other squarely and hold each other accountable.”. The report also notes that “She’s an amazing woman,” said Mokoena. “She always spoke about her daughter.
