Durban runners demand protection as they refuse to be silenced on gender-based violence
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA — Runners in Durban have used a 5km memorial run to call for greater protection and action against gender-based violence (GBV) in South Africa.
The runners completed the event in memory of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Maselakgomo, turning the memorial into a public show of solidarity with victims and survivors of gender-based violence.
Participants said they refuse to remain silent in the face of violence against women and called for stronger measures to protect vulnerable people and hold perpetrators accountable.
The 5km run brought together members of the running community and supporters who used the event to raise awareness of the continuing impact of GBV on communities across the country.
For the participants, the memorial was about more than completing a race. It was a statement that the lives of women affected by violence must not be forgotten and that communities should continue speaking out.
As the runners crossed the finish line, the message remained clear: remembering Tsontso is also a call for safety, justice and meaningful action against gender-based violence.
The event added another voice to South Africa’s ongoing national conversation about violence against women and the need for communities, authorities and institutions to work together to address it.
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