South African women who run in public spaces say they are changing their routines and carrying pepper spray and knives after a series of killings, expressing fear for their personal safety. They describe a determination to keep running despite the threat they perceive.
The reports point to a wider climate of concern around violence and targeted attacks, with runners treating self-protection tools as a practical response. The outlets’ coverage emphasizes that some women view these measures as necessary while they continue their exercise in the face of heightened anxiety. The overall narrative reflects both the immediate decision to alter daily activity and the broader context of security fears affecting women in public.
While specific details about individual incidents are not consistently provided, the shared theme across coverage is that women runners act in response to a perceived pattern of harm. The accounts underscore how fear shapes behaviour, including route choices and the use of deterrents, even when the underlying risk is linked to broader societal violence.
