South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday announced four immediate measures to combat gender-based violence and femicide as the country grappled with a series of killings of women that have fuelled public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the state’s response.
In a televised address to the nation, Ramaphosa said violence against women had become a source of “national shame” and acknowledged that government efforts had failed to adequately protect women and girls.
The measures include a nationwide review of unresolved murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children; a plan to clear forensic evidence backlogs; compulsory women’s safety audits in every municipality; and new legislative and enforcement proposals aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence.
“What we have done has not been enough. We need to do much more,” Ramaphosa said.
“It has not been enough to prevent women from being killed.”
Under the first of the newly announced measures, police and justice authorities must complete an audit of unresolved murders, attempted murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children within 60 days.
Recovery plans for stalled cases must be in place within 90 days.
A second directive requires authorities to submit a funded plan within 60 days to reduce forensic backlogs and fast-track evidence processing in gender-based violence cases.
The third measure compels municipalities to conduct safety audits identifying risks such as broken streetlights, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes and neglected public spaces that may expose women to danger.
The fourth directive requires government departments to develop a coordinated package of legislative and enforcement measures to address alcohol-related violence.
Ramaphosa stressed that while alcohol could aggravate violent behaviour, responsibility for gender-based violence rested solely with perpetrators.
The announcement follows a spate of killings that has shocked South Africa in recent months.
The latest case emerged on Sunday when the body of another woman was discovered in Springs, east of Johannesburg, bringing to 11 the number of women whose bodies have been found in Ekurhuleni since July.
Among the victims identified by authorities are Busisiwe Mahlangu, Itumeleng Kekana, Nomfesane Mjobo, Gracious Nkomo, Elizabeth Moselakgomo, Dineo Motapane, Jabulile Ntimba and Ntombifuthi Nxumalo.
The killings have occurred alongside other high-profile cases across the country, including the deaths of 10-year-old Octavia Swarts in Kraaifontein, Nomakhwezi Zitha in Delft, Josephine Tshabalala in Orlando East, Christina Nyalungu at the University of Limpopo, Amanda Kosani in Port Alfred and several other women and girls whose deaths remain under investigation.
The concentration of killings in Ekurhuleni had sparked fears that a serial killer might be responsible.
However, Ramaphosa said investigators had yet to find evidence linking the cases to a single perpetrator.
“At present, the police have not found evidence establishing that these killings were committed by a single perpetrator. All possibilities remain under investigation,” he said.
The president said a multidisciplinary task team involving detectives, forensic specialists, crime intelligence officials, psychologists and digital investigators had been elevated to the national level.
Police have already made arrests in several cases, including the killings of Ntombifuthi Nxumalo, Jabulile Ntimba and Busisiwe Mahlangu, while investigators continue pursuing leads in the remaining cases.
JN/APA