'It has to stop' — Runners protest women's murders in Kempton Park

On Saturday, a group of runners in Kempton Park, South Africa, protested the murders of nine women in the area over the past two months. Elizabeth Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old mother, was discovered dead three days after going for a run on September 9. She leaves behind an eight-year-old daughter. South Africa has one of the highest murder rates globally, with an average of more than 60 murders per day.

In this specific district, nine women were murdered between July 15 and mid-September, sparking fear and anger across the country. Hundreds of runners gathered in Kempton Park to honor the victims and demand action to end the violence. They covered 13 kilometers as part of their protest. The discovery of the women's bodies, some partially naked and battered, has raised concerns about a serial killer or group of killers operating in the area.

Authorities have not confirmed either theory but found that some women were killed elsewhere before their bodies were dumped. South Africa's government has labeled gender-based violence as a national disaster, with one in three women experiencing physical or sexual violence during her lifetime. Runners expressed their fear and demanded protection, stating that they want to reclaim their streets.

The incident has affected people far beyond Kempton Park, with students in Cape Town also holding a vigil, expressing their concern that such murders could happen to anyone they know.