The Department of Social Development in South Africa has reported a significant surge in calls to its 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC). From September 1 to 16, the centre received 6,782 calls, averaging 424 per day. This marks a 21% increase compared to the previous month, when the centre recorded an average of 350 calls daily. The increase in calls coincides with a series of femicide incidents in Ekurhuleni, where nine women were murdered.
The Ekurhuleni femicide cases have garnered significant attention, with police releasing the names of seven of the nine victims. The victims include Busisiwe Mahlangu, discovered in Kempton Park on July 15, 2026, and Itumeleng Kekana, found on August 3, 2026. Other victims include Nomfesane Mjobo, whose body was recovered on August 26, 2026, and an unidentified woman found floating in the Clayville River in Olifantsfontein on September 7, 2026.
The Gauteng police have opened an inquest into the death of a young woman whose body was found in Soweto on Sunday. According to police, the woman's body was wrapped in a duvet and dumped in a dam at Moroka on Sunday evening. The police have not confirmed whether the cases are linked or involve one perpetrator.
Sandy Godlwana, speaking on behalf of the Department of Social Development, stated that the increased public consciousness surrounding GBV and femicide is evident. The community's concern has reached critical levels following the discovery of approximately nine deceased women in the Ekurhuleni district since last week. These events have intensified calls for urgent and coordinated action to combat GBV and femicide.
The Department of Social Development has issued a call to action for communities to collaborate closely with police and other governmental institutions to combat the epidemic of GBV. Godlwana emphasized that GBV remains a societal challenge that requires all sectors of society to join forces in this crucial fight.
Three people linked to one of the murders appeared in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court on Monday in connection with the murder of a woman whose body was found in Dawn Park in Ekurhuleni on Friday. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said a man and two women were arrested over the weekend by the Gauteng Murder and Robbery Unit.
The surge in GBVCC calls and the Ekurhuleni femicide cases have sparked widespread concern and calls for action. The Department of Social Development has urged communities to work together with police and other institutions to combat GBV. The final days of the two-week period saw a dramatic rise in calls, with daily calls surging to around 500, and a peak of 589 calls on September 16.
Key points
- The GBV Command Centre received 6,782 calls from September 1 to 16, averaging 424 per day, a 21% increase from the previous month.
- Nine women were murdered in Ekurhuleni, with police releasing the names of seven victims.
- Three people were arrested in connection with one of the murders in Ekurhuleni.
