South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a series of new measures to tackle gender-based violence and femicide after the deaths of 11 women in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, triggered renewed national concern. The bodies of the women have been discovered in the area since July, with the latest found in Springs on Sunday. Several victims were young women, and police are investigating the deaths. Four people are currently in custody in connection with some of the cases, but authorities have not established that a single perpetrator was responsible for all 11 killings.
In a televised address, Ramaphosa acknowledged public anger and said the government’s previous efforts had not been sufficient to protect women. His four-point response includes a nationwide review of unresolved murders, attempted murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children. Authorities have 60 days to identify stalled cases, forensic backlogs and cases where suspects have been identified but not arrested, with recovery plans required within 90 days. The president also ordered a funded plan to reduce forensic backlogs and called for urgent processing of evidence in cases involving the rape or murder of women and children.
Municipalities have been instructed to conduct women’s safety audits within 60 days, identifying risks such as broken streetlights, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes and poorly secured public spaces. Local authorities will then have 90 days to address the most urgent hazards or include them in funded plans. The government will also develop measures to reduce alcohol-related violence and strengthen enforcement of existing liquor laws. Ramaphosa stressed that alcohol does not excuse gender-based violence and that responsibility remains with perpetrators. A specialized multidisciplinary investigation into the Ekurhuleni killings has been elevated to the national level. The government says progress on the new measures will be reported publicly every quarter.
