Runners Are Speaking Up Against GBVF!

I run, but I am not safe. 

When the late runner Elizabeth was reported missing, something in me moved. I followed the news headlines for the latest developments with a heavy heart. I panicked and thought about her safety, until her body was found among the other women who had gone missing. 

We lost a runner, and my heart stopped. 

A few months ago, I shared videos on Tiktok about the precautions I take on the road as a solo female runner. My three-part series was intended to raise awareness about the importance of visibility on the road, having an identity and avoiding isolated areas when running. 

However, as women running alone, we are exposed and our vulnerability is heightened. Whether you take extra precautions or not, anything can happen to you. 

There are absolutely no amount of words that can describe my feelings about Elizabeth and the other women, but–pain. 

On a daily basis, we receive mass messages informing us to stay vigilant and alert at all times. We are constantly being reminded that we are not safe. Anxiety creeps in every time I head out for my afternoon run because I too have never felt safe. 

The one very critical aspect of the conversation that I have not heard  enough since the recent developments is: What is the role of men in ending GBVF?

What is the role of men in ending GBVF in South Africa?

Because  the practical solution to ending GBVF and rape is failing. 

By practical, I mean that  men need to stop raping women and men need to stop killing women. 

We need to have honest conversations about the role of men in ending GBVF.

Until then, let us see the importance of belonging to a community. Elizabeths’s life teaches us how valuable community is because, had we not heard from the runners, the bodies of the missing women may have not been found. 

End GBVF. NOW! 

Phiwe Mncwabe is a Communications & Public Engagement Writer, Pan-African storyteller and Founder of Botlhale Hub Afrika. She writes on governance, leadership, public policy and African affairs through research-informed storytelling that encourages thoughtful public dialogue. 

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