South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged men to confront gender‑based violence in a televised speech, announcing a series of measures aimed at addressing the country’s rising murder wave. He acknowledged that the state had failed to protect women and called on men to stop remaining silent.
Ramaphosa said police would review unsolved murders, attempted murders and serious sexual offences against women and children, and would produce a funded plan to clear the forensic backlog for such cases within 60 days. Local governments were given five months to tackle environmental factors that compromise safety, such as broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces and abandoned buildings. He also tasked five ministers with a 60‑day deadline to reduce alcohol‑fuelled violence.
The president highlighted the recent discovery of 11 women’s bodies in the Ekurhuleni municipality, noting that eight were found in the last three weeks, including Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared after a run. He said suspects had been arrested in connection with three killings and that the police were still investigating all possibilities, including the possibility of a serial killer. He stressed that alcohol does not cause gender‑based violence but is an aggravating factor.
Activists warned that the announced timelines would only matter if followed by concrete action. Amnesty International South Africa’s executive director Shenilla Mohamed said the country had been discussing solutions since 2019, yet attacks continue. Sonke Gender Justice representatives Mpiwa Mangwiro‑Tsanga and Bafana Khumalo criticised the focus on post‑victim responses, arguing that a comprehensive prevention strategy is needed and that municipalities have historically failed to deliver on safety mandates.
