Women speak out as eight Ekurhuleni killings fuel safety fears

Women are asking why staying safe has again become their responsibility after a string of deaths in Ekurhuleni. 

At least eight women had been found dead across the area by Tuesday, with police investigating possible links.

The discoveries around Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein and KwaThema have shaken local communities. Women who run, walk or travel alone now face fresh fears about ordinary routines. 

For some, the official advice to be vigilant has added anger to their grief.

WHY ARE WOMEN ANGRY ABOUT THE SAFETY ADVICE?

The South African Police Service urged women around Kempton Park to exercise extreme caution after several bodies were found over about two months. The advice included avoiding isolated places and taking extra care while exercising.

Activists say women already spend much of their lives assessing risks. Sihle Sibisi, founder of the Kwanele Foundation, says government must do more than hold meetings. She wants resources placed on the ground to fight gender-based violence and femicide. 

That frustration is echoed by women in affected communities. Some say they fear going to work early or exercising outside. Others worry about what could happen to their children.

For many runners, changing their routes or training times is already routine. Yet activists question why women should surrender ordinary freedoms because criminals might attack them.

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT DOING TO PROTECT WOMEN?

Police have formed a high-level multidisciplinary team to investigate the deaths. The team includes specialist detectives, forensic experts, tracking resources, K9 capabilities and investigative psychology. 

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has said investigators must establish whether the cases are connected. Police have not confirmed that one person committed the killings. 

Parliament’s police committee chairperson Ian Cameron has also urged the public to cooperate with investigators. He has warned against claiming that the cases are connected before evidence establishes that link. 

Minister in the Presidency Sindisiwe Chikunga has called for urgent action against attacks on women exercising in public spaces. She said women should not have to choose between their health and safety. 

CAN WOMEN STILL RUN WITHOUT FEAR?

For Nicky (pseudonym), an avid runner, who spoke to SA People, the anger runs deep. She has experienced three frightening incidents, including an attack while running.

In 2020, she was assaulted while out running. Instead of receiving support, she faced criticism in the comments of a media report. Some questioned why she had been running alone.

She had taken precautions, carried a stun baton and left valuables at home. She also varied her routes and running times.

Her first serious encounter happened in 2001, when she was only 16. She was assaulted, threatened with a knife and nearly raped while walking home from school.

Then, in November last year, a driver allegedly tried to hit her deliberately while she was running. The man was arrested soon afterwards but released the following morning.

She remains determined to run alone, while taking reasonable safety measures.

A MESSAGE TO PERPETRATORS

Her message to potential attackers is equally clear: They may threaten her body, but they will not take away her passion for running.

For her, the latest calls for women to change their behaviour miss the deeper issue: Women already assess risks every time they leave home.

They should remain cautious, but safety precautions should never become a reason to blame victims. 

“Women deserve to run, walk and live without violence dictating where they can go,” she says.