South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a sweeping set of measures aimed at strengthening the country’s response to gender-based violence and femicide following the discovery of the bodies of 11 women in Ekurhuleni since July.
The killings, east of Johannesburg, have triggered renewed public concern over violence against women and raised questions about whether some of the cases could be connected.
Authorities have not established that a single perpetrator is responsible for the killings, and investigations remain ongoing. Suspects have been arrested in connection with some of the cases.
In an address to the nation on Tuesday, September 29, Ramaphosa acknowledged shortcomings in the government’s response and announced measures covering unresolved criminal investigations, forensic backlogs and the safety of public spaces.
Municipalities Ordered to Identify Dangerous Areas
Under the new measures, municipalities across South Africa have been directed to conduct women’s safety audits within 60 days.
The exercise will identify locations and infrastructure conditions that could increase risks to women, including broken streetlights, abandoned buildings, overgrown public spaces, unsafe transport routes and poorly secured parks.
Provincial governments and police are expected to work with municipalities to identify high-risk areas.
The most urgent hazards are then expected to be addressed within 90 days after completion of the audits or included in funded implementation plans with defined deadlines.
Authorities will also be expected to make their findings and progress public.
The approach expands the response beyond policing by recognising the role that urban infrastructure and poorly maintained public spaces can play in creating unsafe environments.
Unresolved Murder, Rape Cases Face Review
Ramaphosa also ordered a national case-recovery operation covering unresolved murders, attempted murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children.
Within 60 days, authorities are expected to determine the number and age of unresolved cases, identify investigations delayed by outstanding forensic evidence and establish cases where suspects have been identified but not arrested.
Individual recovery plans must subsequently be prepared within 90 days for priority and stalled cases, setting out outstanding investigative work, responsible authorities and deadlines.
The directive places pressure on both police investigators and prosecutors to address cases that have remained unresolved.
Forensic Backlogs Targeted
Forensic delays are another focus of the intervention.
South African police and forensic authorities have been directed to prepare a funded plan within 60 days aimed at reducing existing backlogs.
The plan must establish the scale and age of outstanding cases, identify shortages of personnel and equipment, determine the resources required and set deadlines for improvement.
Forensic evidence connected with the rape or murder of women and children will receive priority treatment.
Progress is expected to be reported publicly every quarter.
Ekurhuleni Killings Drive Renewed Alarm
The measures follow the discovery of 11 women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni since mid-July.
Many of the victims were in their 20s and 30s, and some showed signs of sexual violence.
The concentration of killings has generated concern about whether a serial offender could be involved.
Ramaphosa said police had not established evidence that the deaths were the work of a single perpetrator, although investigators had not ruled out possibilities as inquiries continued.
Arrests have already been made in three investigations, while forensic evidence, mobile phones and other material have been collected in others.
Ramaphosa Calls on Men to Act
Beyond institutional reforms, Ramaphosa directed part of his address specifically at South African men.
He argued that ending violence against women cannot remain a responsibility placed predominantly on women themselves and urged men to challenge violent and abusive behaviour.
The President acknowledged that measures previously introduced by the government had not been sufficient to protect women.
Civil society organisations have long pressed the government for stronger implementation of measures against gender-based violence, and some activists have argued that the latest interventions will need to be accompanied by accountability and stronger preventive action.
The effectiveness of the latest measures will therefore be determined not simply by the deadlines announced by the presidency, but by whether investigations move forward, forensic backlogs fall and municipalities actually correct the safety hazards identified in their communities.
For families awaiting answers in Ekurhuleni and elsewhere, the immediate priority remains identifying those responsible for the killings and bringing individual cases to court.
