Runner’s final route leads to investigation in South Africa

Elizabeth Moselakgomo, known as Tsontso, left her home in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, South Africa, for a routine run on the evening of September 9th and did not return.

Tsontso frequently ran a 6km circular route near her home, choosing quieter side streets to avoid traffic. Her friend, Lesiba Molefe, noted she was training for the Two Oceans Ultra Marathon but believed she ran primarily for enjoyment and stress relief. When Tsontso hadn’t returned by 6:30pm, her daughter alerted family members.

Her body was discovered on September 12th, sparking a police investigation that revealed at least eight other women had been murdered in the area. The location where she was found was close to a route she had previously mapped on the Strava app. Tsontso’s death resonated with runners across South Africa, who have held memorial runs and worn pink in her honor.

Molefe believes Tsontso's murder underscores a need for greater community safety, particularly for women, and he plans to walk the Camino de Santiago in her memory, a trip they had planned together. Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death and search for her killer.