The President has announced a four-point emergency response after the bodies of 11 women were found in Ekurhuleni since July, while police continue investigating whether the killings are connected.
In a solemn national address, the President said the latest discovery of a woman’s body in Springs on Sunday had brought the number of women found dead in the Ekurhuleni area to 11.
The President spoke not only as the head of state, but also as a husband and father of daughters, saying no man should ignore the violence faced by women across South Africa.
“The violence inflicted upon the women of South Africa is a source of profound pain and national shame.”
“The nation is angry. The women of South Africa are angry.”
“Their anger is justified.”
“I share that anger.”
The President said the country also shared the grief of families whose loved ones had been killed in what he described as cruel and senseless violence. Among the women whose names are known in connection with the recent killings are Busisiwe Mahlangu, Itumeleng Kekana, Nomfesane Mjobo, Gracious Nkomo, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, Dineo Motapane, Jabulile Ntimba and Ntombifuthi Nxumalo.
The national address also remembered other women and girls killed in recent weeks, including 10-year-old Octavia Swarts from Kraaifontein, Nomakhwezi Zitha from Delft, Taymin Platt from Eersterust, Josephine Tshabalala from Orlando East and Siyavuya Mlunguza from Komani.
The list also included 73-year-old Bredasdorp grandmother Mariette Mouton, Christina Nyalungu, a security officer at the University of Limpopo, Sibongile Mdali from Richmond, 15-year-old Amogelang Motshwaedi from Dinokana village, Pinky Shelembe and Ntombizana Mbanjwa from Richmond, and Amanda Kosani from Port Alfred, who was killed on Women’s Day.
The President stressed that these were only some of the women and girls whose lives had been taken in recent weeks. Other victims remained unidentified in government mortuaries, waiting for relatives to identify them, claim their bodies and take them home for burial.
“Behind each of these terrible deaths was a human being – a daughter, a mother, a sister, a friend – whose life had value, whose future mattered and whose absence has left a family and a community grieving.”
The President said women across the country were living with the fear that they could be next. He also pointed to the failure to end the crisis despite having addressed the nation about gender-based violence seven years ago.
“What weighs on me most is that seven years ago, in this same month, I stood before the nation to speak about this same crisis.”
“Yet here we are, once more having to confront the terrible reality of violence against women in our country.”
“The names of the victims are new. The crime is not.”
The President acknowledged that government’s efforts had not been enough to prevent women from being killed or to make them safe in their homes, on the streets, on public transport, at workplaces and in places of learning.
“As President of the Republic of South Africa, I acknowledge this.”
“As government, we must do better.”
“As a society, we must do better.”
Ekurhuleni investigation elevated
The killings in Ekurhuleni are now receiving attention at the highest levels of government and law enforcement. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has approved a comprehensive emergency response.
A specialised multidisciplinary investigation has been elevated to national level under the coordination of the Deputy National Commissioner for Detective Services. The team includes detectives, Crime Intelligence officers, forensic specialists, investigative psychologists, digital investigators and other specialised units.
Arrests have already been made in some of the cases. Police arrested a suspect on Sunday morning in connection with the killing of Ntombifuthi Nxumalo, whose body was found on Saturday.
Two suspects have been arrested and appeared in court in connection with the killing of Jabulile Ntimba. Another suspect is in custody in connection with the murder of Busisiwe Mahlangu.
In the remaining cases, police have identified persons of interest and collected forensic material, including DNA, blood samples, clothing, cellphones and cellphone records. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research is assisting with the digital forensic investigation.
There has been widespread fear that the discovery of the bodies in close proximity could point to a single perpetrator. However, the President said police had not found evidence proving that the murders were committed by one person.
“At present, the police have not found evidence establishing that these killings were committed by a single perpetrator. All possibilities remain under investigation.”
The President told the families of the murdered women that the cases would not be allowed to go cold and said the State was combining its available resources to establish what happened and identify those responsible.
He also appealed to the public to assist investigators. Only two of the women found dead in Ekurhuleni had been reported missing, although the President stressed that this was not a criticism of grieving families who may have faced uncertainty or difficulty seeking help.
He reminded South Africans that there is no requirement to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing.
“If you know something, say something.”
“If you have reason to fear that something is wrong, report it immediately.”
The President said hours, photographs, vehicle registration numbers, messages, telephone calls and observations that might appear insignificant could provide investigators with important clues.
Visible policing has also been increased in Ekurhuleni, with operations set to continue for as long as necessary.
Four immediate measures
The President said police action alone would not solve the crisis and that the State could not wait until a woman had been murdered before intervening.
“We cannot police our way out of gender-based violence alone.”
“We cannot arrest our way out of this crisis alone.”
“And we cannot wait until a woman is murdered before the state intervenes.”
The first measure is a national case-recovery operation focused on unresolved murders, attempted murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children. The Minister of Police and the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development have been directed to carry out the operation with the South African Police Service and, with due regard to prosecutorial independence, the National Prosecuting Authority.
Within 60 days, the audit must identify the number and ages of unresolved cases, cases waiting for forensic evidence, cases where suspects have been identified but not arrested, and cases where investigative or prosecutorial action has been unreasonably delayed.
Within 90 days, individual recovery plans must be prepared for priority cases and stalled cases. Each plan must identify the outstanding action, the official responsible and the deadline for moving the case forward.
The second measure is a funded plan to reduce forensic backlogs. The Minister of Police, the National Commissioner of Police and relevant forensic authorities must present the plan within 60 days. It must set out the size and age of the backlog, shortages of personnel and equipment, required resources and dates for reducing the backlog.
Priority forensic samples in cases involving the rape or murder of women and children must be ring-fenced for urgent processing. Progress against turnaround standards must be reported publicly every quarter.
The third measure requires every municipality to begin a women’s safety audit without delay, working with provincial governments and the police to identify high-risk areas.
Within 60 days, the audits must identify broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes and facilities, poorly secured parks and other dangers that place women at risk.
Within 90 days of completing an audit, the most urgent hazards must be addressed or included in a funded implementation plan with clear completion dates. The results and progress will be published so communities can see what has been identified, fixed and left outstanding.
Provincial and municipal authorities must also intensify enforcement of existing liquor laws and by-laws, particularly against unlicensed outlets and businesses trading outside permitted hours.
The fourth measure involves alcohol-related violence. The Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, working with the Ministers of Health, Social Development, Police and Cooperative Governance, must submit a coordinated legislative and enforcement package to Cabinet within 60 days.
The President stressed that alcohol does not cause gender-based violence and can never excuse it, with responsibility always resting with the perpetrator. However, he said harmful alcohol use was a significant aggravating factor in interpersonal violence and needed to be addressed as part of prevention efforts.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee and the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide will monitor the measures and issue consolidated public progress reports every quarter. The first report must be issued within 90 days.
‘No means no’
The President said government programmes, stronger laws, additional resources and more police officers would not end violence against women on their own. He argued that gender-based violence begins much earlier, in attitudes that regard women as inferior and in the belief that men have the right to control women.
“It begins when jealousy is mistaken for love, when control is mistaken for protection and coercion is mistaken for affection.”
“It begins when a man believes that because he is powerful, wealthy or influential, he is entitled to a woman’s attention or affection.”
“It begins when a man refuses to accept the word no.”
The President said a national study by the South African Medical Research Council found that more than 60% of women murdered in 2021 and 2022 were killed by an intimate partner. Too often, he said, the greatest threat was not an unknown person but someone the victim knew, trusted or loved.
He called for prevention to begin in homes and for boys to learn about girls, anger, rejection and consent. Schools, universities, religious institutions, sporting organisations and workplaces were also urged to play their part.
The President directly challenged men and boys to confront abuse and harassment among friends, colleagues and relatives.
“Challenge the friend who humiliates his partner.”
“Challenge the colleague who harasses women.”
“Challenge the relative who abuses his wife or girlfriend.”
“It is time for good men to stop being silent men.”
He praised South African men who were already speaking out, including Siya Kolisi and Temba Bavuma, and said the conversation needed to happen in homes, sports clubs, workplaces, religious institutions, taxis, shebeens, university campuses and around family tables.
The President said responsibility for violence always belonged to the person who committed it and never to the victim.
“No woman causes herself to be abused.”
“No item of clothing causes rape.”
“No argument justifies assault.”
“No relationship gives one person ownership over another.”
“No rejection justifies violence.”
“And no man has the right to take the life of a woman because she chooses to leave him.”
The President said women should not have to change their routes, avoid going out at night or reorganise their lives around the threat of male violence. He called on men to stand with women in confronting gender-based violence and femicide.
The Moral Regeneration Movement will also be strengthened, with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture directed to ensure that it contributes to changing the attitudes, social norms and practices that enable violence against women.
South Africa will join the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in just under two months. The President called for the period to be used to build a strong social movement with a clear purpose.
“Seven years from now, no President should have to stand before this nation and say these same words again.”
“Not simply to mourn.”
“Not simply to condemn.”
“But to act.”
“And to keep acting until every woman and every girl in South Africa can live in freedom, in dignity and in safety.”