South African celebrities and public figures are speaking out as fear and anger grow over the deaths of women whose bodies have been discovered across Ekurhuleni in recent weeks.

Bonang Matheba has added her voice to the national conversation, sharing a heartfelt reaction on Tuesday, 15 September, as news of the latest developments continued to unfold.

The media personality posted simply: “…what a terrible, terrible day.”

Her words came as police continued investigating the deaths of multiple women whose bodies have been found in Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein and surrounding areas. By Wednesday, police had confirmed that eight women’s deaths were being investigated, although authorities have cautioned against assuming that all the cases are connected.

The developments have sparked widespread concern, particularly among women who have been left questioning their safety while going about ordinary daily activities.

Rachel Kolisi also broke her silence on Monday, 14 September, reposting a tribute to Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, the 38-year-old runner whose disappearance had gripped South Africa.

Rachel shared the heartbreaking news of Moselakgomo’s death with a crying emoji. She also described the situation as “femicide” after another woman’s body was discovered, adding to the growing public anger around the deaths.

Rachel Kolisi also broke her silence on Monday, 14 September, reposting a tribute to Elizabeth disappeared after leaving her home in Rhodesfield for an afternoon run. Her family later identified her body at the Germiston mortuary on Monday. Police have since urged women in and around Kempton Park, particularly Rhodesfield, not to walk or run alone in isolated areas.

DJ Lamiez Holworthy was among those who expressed fear and frustration over the warnings being directed primarily at women. “My heart breaks at the state of our country, as a mother, a daughter, a woman, as a human being who has a basic right to live, I am scared,” she wrote.

She questioned why warnings so often appear to fall on women and children rather than focusing on those responsible for violent crimes. “And even with all this information, all the warnings are issued to women and children. There’s never stern warnings given to the perpetrators of these heinous crimes,” she said.

DJ Lamiez pointed to the reality that women face danger during ordinary activities, saying: “Clearly jogging during the DAY isn’t safe nor is going to the POST OFFICE or simply going to school, work or even the mall.”

Actress Linda Mtoba also reflected on how close to home the issue feels for women and families. “It could be me, it could be you. My mom, your mom. My daughter, your daughter. My sister, your sister. It could be me,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, ERA by DJ Zinhle, the lifestyle brand founded by DJ Zinhle, added its voice to the conversation around gender-based violence by sharing a public safety advisory directed at women. Captioned “Women deserve to be safe,” the post offered practical safety advice while making clear that responsibility for violence lies with perpetrators, not victims.

The growing concern comes as police investigate a series of deaths across Ekurhuleni. Earlier this week, SAPS confirmed concerning similarities in some of the cases, including victims being found partially clothed and with visible bruising, and launched a multidisciplinary task team to investigate possible links. Police have repeatedly stressed that they have not confirmed that a single perpetrator is responsible.

Police have also separately warned the public about online dating scams in Kempton Park, after approximately 10 cases were reported in which people said they had met individuals online before allegedly being lured to locations where they were robbed or sexually assaulted. Police have specifically said this issue should not be linked to Moselakgomo’s disappearance at this stage.

For many South Africans, however, the broader issue remains the same: women are increasingly questioning whether everyday activities, from going for a run to going to work, school or the shops, can be done without fear.

The deaths have prompted renewed calls for urgent action against gender-based violence and for women to be able to move through public spaces without having to carry the responsibility of preventing violence committed against them.

As investigations continue, the public has been urged to share information that could assist police in identifying those responsible.

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