Ramaphosa Announces Measures to Tackle Femicide in South Africa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced new measures to strengthen the government’s response to gender-based violence and femicide, following a series of killings of women in and around Ekurhuleni, Gauteng.
In a national address on Tuesday, Ramaphosa directed authorities to launch a national case-recovery operation targeting unresolved murders, attempted murders and rape cases involving women and children. The police, Justice Ministry, National Prosecuting Authority and police leadership are expected to identify unresolved cases within 60 days and develop recovery plans within 90 days.
He also ordered municipalities across the country to conduct women’s safety audits, with a focus on identifying unsafe public spaces and improving measures such as lighting, surveillance and other security infrastructure.
The President further directed authorities to address forensic backlogs in gender-based violence cases and called for coordinated measures to reduce alcohol-related violence, while stressing that alcohol does not excuse perpetrators’ actions.
The announcement follows the discovery of multiple women’s bodies in Ekurhuleni since July. South African authorities said 13 bodies had been recovered in Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas by September 29, prompting intensified investigations and calls for swift prosecution.
Earlier this month, an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide approved a Comprehensive Emergency Strategy and elevated the investigation into the Ekurhuleni killings to a multidisciplinary specialised team coordinated by the Deputy National Commissioner for Detective Services.
The government’s 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Command Centre has also reported a rise in calls. It received 6,782 calls between September 1 and 16, a 21 percent increase from the average recorded during the same period in August.
