# Seven women found dead near Johannesburg airport

> Five bodies discovered in a week spark fury over South Africa's femicide crisis and lack of government action.
- Title: Seven women found dead near Johannesburg airport | Shortify
- Summary: Five bodies discovered in a week spark fury over South Africa's femicide crisis and lack of government action. South Africa's femicide crisis continues…
- Keywords: south africa, femicide, johannesburg, or tambo airport, kempton park, elizabeth moselakgomo, cyril ramaphosa, gender-based violence, women for change, sonke gender justice, serial killer, news
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/16/discovery-women-bodies-anger-femicide-south-africa
- Published: 2026-09-16T07:00:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: south africa, femicide, johannesburg, or tambo airport, kempton park, elizabeth moselakgomo, cyril ramaphosa, gender-based violence, women for change, sonke gender justice, serial killer, news
## Seven bodies found near airport
Seven women's bodies were discovered around Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport, with five found in the past week alone. All showed signs of violence.
## Runner killed after daughter raised alarm
Elizabeth Moselakgomo, 38, disappeared during a run on 9 September. Her eight-year-old daughter alerted relatives when she didn't return home.

> In this country we are prey
## South Africa's staggering murder rate
Over 27,600 people were murdered in the year to March 2024, including 5,578 women. South Africa has one of the world's highest femicide rates.
## Crisis declared but action missing
President Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence a national crisis in November 2025 after protests. Yet no concrete plan has followed.
## Police tell women to stay vigilant
Authorities urged women not to walk or run alone in isolated areas. The advice sparked fury among women already taking extensive safety precautions.

> We are tired of being told to be vigilant when women are already doing everything possible to stay alive
## Men must hold each other accountable
Sonke Gender Justice called on men to stop looking away when violence happens. They urged men to face each other and take responsibility.

> We feel strongly that violence against women is our business. We need, as men, to begin to face each other squarely
## Running clubs honour the victims
Clubs across South Africa organized memorial runs for Moselakgomo, a devoted mother who joined to avoid training alone on Saturdays.

> She always spoke about her daughter. Tsontso always said 'Bye guys, I have to go, I have to go to my child'
## Key takeaway

South Africa's femicide crisis continues unchecked despite being declared a national emergency, with women demanding concrete action instead of safety warnings.