“Cape Town runner Naiema Abrahams has embarked on a 24-hour run at Rondebosch Common to raise awareness about gender-based violence and the concerns faced by women who run alone, with the challenge scheduled to continue from 7pm on Friday until 7pm on Saturday, 26 September. The initiative follows the disappearance and death of Johannesburg runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo and comes during a busy period for South African road running, with athletes also competing in major races and the SPAR Grand Prix series.”
Cape Town runner Naiema Abrahams is using endurance running to draw attention to one of South Africa’s most serious social concerns: gender-based violence. Abrahams, who runs for Bo-Kaap Athletics Club, began a planned 24-hour awareness run at Rondebosch Common at 7pm on Friday, 25 September, with the challenge scheduled to continue through the night and finish at 7pm on Saturday, 26 September.
The event gives athletics a purpose that extends beyond competition, times and finishing positions. Rather than entering a conventional road race, Abrahams is using continuous running as a public awareness activity, highlighting the fears experienced by women who exercise and run in public spaces. The initiative was reported by the Cape Argus on 25 September.
The challenge has particular significance because of the circumstances surrounding the death of fellow runner Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo. According to the Cape Argus, Abrahams decided to undertake the 24-hour run after reading about Moselakgomo, a Johannesburg runner who disappeared after going out for a run earlier in September and was subsequently found dead. Athletics South Africa also confirmed Moselakgomo’s death in a September 14 statement, describing her as 38 years old.
Running becomes a platform for awareness
Road running has a strong community culture in South Africa. Thousands of people participate in organised races every year, while clubs provide athletes with opportunities to train, compete and socialise. For many runners, however, the experience of training outdoors also involves considerations that go beyond athletic preparation.
Abrahams’ challenge places that reality at the centre of the conversation. A 24-hour run is physically demanding under normal circumstances. Running through an entire day and night requires endurance, preparation, hydration, nutrition and the ability to manage fatigue. By choosing such a demanding format for an awareness campaign, Abrahams is connecting the physical challenge of long-distance running with a broader message about safety and the experiences of women.
The location is also significant. Rondebosch Common is a familiar recreational space in Cape Town and is used by members of the public for running and other outdoor activities. Holding an awareness run there allows members of the community to encounter the campaign directly rather than treating it solely as an online message.
The Cape Argus reported that Abrahams planned to continue running from Friday evening until Saturday evening, meaning the challenge would span overnight hours.
A wider moment for South African running
Abrahams’ initiative comes at a particularly active time for athletics in South Africa. The country’s road-running community has recently been involved in national and international competition, with South African athletes competing at major championships and domestic road races.
Athletics South Africa reported that Glenrose Xaba and Cwenga Nose were among Team South Africa’s leading performers at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Copenhagen on 20 September. The governing body had also reported national records falling during the opening day of those championships on 19 September.
Meanwhile, the domestic road-running calendar remains busy. Modern Athlete reported on 25 September that the SPAR Grand Prix series was heading towards a decisive stage, with the Gqeberha race scheduled for Saturday, 26 September. Glenrose Xaba was seeking a fourth series title, while Cacisile Sosibo and Tayla Kavanagh were also involved in the championship battle.
The timing demonstrates the variety within South African athletics. Elite competitors are pursuing titles and records, while ordinary club runners and community athletes continue participating in events for fitness, competition and social causes.
Safety concerns have also surfaced at running events
The issue of safety is not limited to solo training. A separate report by TimesLIVE on 25 September highlighted concerns raised by participants in the Absa Run Your City 10km race in Johannesburg. Some runners reported alleged cellphone thefts during the event, prompting questions about security and the protection of participants’ belongings. Gauteng police said one theft had formally been reported at that stage and that the circumstances were still being investigated.
The reports illustrate some of the different safety considerations that can arise around running. Organised races involve large crowds, routes, marshals and security arrangements, while individual training can present different challenges.
For women in particular, questions about personal safety can influence when, where and how they exercise. Abrahams’ campaign brings those concerns into the athletics community at a time when running organisations and participants are already thinking about safety at events and during training.
South Africa’s endurance tradition
The country’s athletics landscape extends from elite track and field to marathon running, trail running, cross-country and community road races. South Africa has produced athletes who have competed internationally across these disciplines.
Ultra-distance runner Ryan Sandes recently featured in an Eyewitness News report examining how his experiences in South Africa influenced his approach to extreme endurance competition. The report followed his participation in the Marathon des Sables and explored his views on resilience, adaptability and the challenges athletes encounter in their everyday lives.
Sandes’ story represents the performance side of endurance running, while Abrahams’ challenge demonstrates another dimension: endurance sport can also become a platform for social awareness.
The distinction is important. Abrahams’ run is not being presented as a conventional championship competition. Its significance lies in the message attached to the physical act of running and in the community discussion surrounding safety.
Why the 24-hour format matters
A 24-hour run creates a continuous visual and physical representation of endurance. Instead of completing a single race distance and stopping, the participant remains engaged with the challenge over an extended period.
Such a format also allows supporters to participate at different times. People can potentially visit the location, show support, share information about the campaign or follow developments online without having to participate in the full endurance challenge themselves.
For the broader athletics community, initiatives like this can demonstrate how running clubs and individual athletes can connect sport with issues affecting their communities. Athletics is not only about professional championships; it is also a mass-participation activity involving people of different ages, abilities and backgrounds.
Remembering Elizabeth Moselakgomo
The death of Moselakgomo has become part of the context surrounding the campaign. Athletics South Africa publicly mourned her death on 14 September, while subsequent coverage connected her case with concerns about runners’ safety.
The circumstances have therefore resonated beyond one athletics club or one city. For people who regularly run outdoors, the story has brought attention to the vulnerability that can accompany an otherwise ordinary training activity.
Abrahams’ decision to dedicate a 24-hour run to awareness provides a visible response from within the running community. It turns personal concern into a public sporting activity and gives fellow runners an opportunity to engage with the issue.
The road ahead for South African athletics
As the 2026 athletics season continues, South African runners remain active across road racing, track and field, cross-country and international competition. The national federation’s recent updates show that the country’s athletes have continued to compete on the international stage, while the domestic calendar features races and championships throughout September.
The 26 September calendar itself includes road-running activity in Gauteng, including the Ford 3 in 1 Spring Race, according to Athletics Gauteng North’s published fixtures.
Against that sporting backdrop, Abrahams’ run offers a different measure of what athletics can represent. There is no conventional podium attached to the challenge, but there is a public message and a community conversation.
Her 24-hour run is ultimately about more than distance. It connects endurance, remembrance and awareness while drawing attention to the experiences of women who want to participate in outdoor sport without fear.
As Abrahams continues the challenge through Saturday evening, the run places a spotlight on the relationship between athletics and the wider community. South African running continues to produce championship performances, records and major races, but initiatives such as this also show how the sport can be used to raise awareness about issues that affect participants beyond the finish line.
