President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to address the nation on the government's response to gender-based violence and the investigation into the killings of nine women in and around Ekurhuleni, South Africa. The address will take place within days, Ramaphosa said during Heritage Day celebrations at Bongolethu Sports Stadium in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape. He emphasized that the abuse, rape, and killing of women is not part of South Africa's heritage.
The nine women were found murdered in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, over the past two months. Most of the victims were in their 20s and 30s, with some found partially or completely undressed and showing signs of possible sexual violence. The police have cautioned against concluding that a serial killer is responsible before forensic and other investigations are completed. Four of the women were found within a six-kilometer radius, while six bodies were discovered during a 10-day period.
Police have charged two women in connection with one of the killings, who appeared in the Boksburg Magistrates' Court. A man who was initially detained was subsequently released without charge. The police have not linked the accused women to the other eight deaths, and their bail hearing is scheduled for October 1. Deputy National Police Commissioner Tebello Mosikili stated that investigators are examining the circumstances of every case to identify the perpetrators and determine whether any of the deaths are connected.
Ramaphosa used his Heritage Day speech to reject attempts to cloak discrimination and abuse in culture or tradition. He stated that there is no culture worthy of the name that diminishes the dignity of women. The president emphasized that the women of South Africa have the right to walk the streets of their country at any hour without fear. He described the violence experienced by women as a national shame and argued that South Africa's freedom remains profoundly unequal.
The president's address comes 10 months after gender-based violence and femicide were formally classified as a national disaster under the Disaster Management Act. The classification placed primary responsibility for coordinating and managing the crisis with the national executive. However, campaigners have questioned whether official declarations and government programs have produced meaningful improvements in women's safety.
Ramaphosa also linked Heritage Day to the issue of inequality in South Africa. He stated that the country's present enemies include unemployment, corruption, gender-based violence, and alcohol and drug abuse. The president urged South Africans to choose unity, ubuntu, and human dignity, emphasizing that the actions and decisions taken now will determine whether the country builds up or further breaks.
One of the victims was Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old runner and mother whose killing prompted memorial runs and renewed demands for tougher action against femicide. Ramaphosa previously promised that "no stone will be left unturned" in the investigation. The president's promised address aims to update South Africans on the steps the government is taking to confront gender-based violence and the investigation into the Ekurhuleni killings.
Key points
- President Cyril Ramaphosa to address nation on government's response to gender-based violence and Ekurhuleni killings
- Nine women found murdered in Ekurhuleni, South Africa, over the past two months
- Ramaphosa rejects attempts to cloak discrimination and abuse in culture or tradition
