Maile mourns Elizabeth Moselakgomo and calls for action against femicide

Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has called for collective action against gender-based violence and femicide following the death of 38-year-old Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo.

Moselakgomo’s body was positively identified by her family at the Germiston mortuary after she disappeared while out for a routine run from her home in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park.

Her disappearance triggered a search involving her family, community members and law enforcement agencies.

Maile said Moselakgomo’s death was particularly devastating because she was simply exercising when she disappeared and left behind an eight-year-old daughter.

“Elizabeth went out to exercise, something millions of people should be able to do without fear, and she did not return home,” Maile said.

He said the reported discovery of several bodies of women in and around Kempton Park had heightened concern in the community.

The South African Police Service has established a multidisciplinary investigation involving detectives and specialised policing resources to investigate the deaths and determine whether any of the cases are connected.

Police have cautioned against speculation and said no conclusion should yet be drawn that the cases are linked or that a single perpetrator is responsible.

Maile said those responsible for killing women must be identified and brought before the courts, while investigations must be allowed to proceed on the basis of evidence.

He also called on men to take greater responsibility in confronting misogyny, harassment, abuse and violent behaviour in their communities.

“The fight against femicide cannot be a conversation that takes place only among women. Men must speak to other men,” he said.

Maile said schools also had an important role to play in challenging attitudes that enable violence against women.

“We therefore have to teach our boys that masculinity can never be measured by domination, intimidation or violence, and teach all our children about dignity, equality, consent, respect and the sanctity of human life,” he said.

He called on anyone with information that could assist the investigation to cooperate with police.

“Elizabeth should have returned home from her run. She should have returned to her daughter and her family. That is the ordinary freedom every woman in Gauteng and South Africa deserves,” Maile said.