President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured the families of women brutally killed in Ekurhuleni that the state will do everything in its power to bring perpetrators to justice. The President made the statement on Tuesday night, amid a growing outcry over the discovery of 11 women's bodies in and around Ekurhuleni since July. Ramaphosa vowed to utilize all available state resources to uncover the truth behind the killings and identify those responsible.
The President urged members of the public with information on the killings to come forward and assist the police with their investigations. He emphasized the importance of timely information, stating that "hours matter" and "a photograph matters." The police have increased their visibility in Ekurhuleni, with Ramaphosa assuring that these operations will continue for as long as necessary. The President also appealed to community members to report any suspicious activity.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that policing alone will not solve the crisis of gender-based violence and femicide. He stressed that a multi-faceted approach is required, including prevention and support services for survivors. The President noted that since GBVF was classified as a national disaster last year, the government has reprioritized resources and strengthened coordination across the criminal justice system and survivor-support services.
The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide has been established to coordinate and drive the national response to GBVF. The Council's Board held its inaugural meeting in Pretoria in August 2026. Ramaphosa also announced that resources have been allocated to strengthen the Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units, with additional funding to be allocated in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.
The government is expanding Sexual Offences Courts and Thuthuzela Care Centres, which provide medical, forensic, counselling, and legal services to survivors. Shelter services are also being expanded, while the processing of DNA and forensic evidence is being strengthened. Furthermore, the law is being tightened to make it more difficult for perpetrators of GBV and domestic abuse to obtain bail.
Ramaphosa emphasized that a woman who reports abuse must not be turned away from a police station, and a protection order must not become merely a piece of paper while an abuser continues to threaten his victim. He stressed that the state must hold itself accountable for any failures in supporting survivors of GBV. The President's address was part of a broader government effort to address the GBVF crisis.
The government has conveyed condolences to the families of the murdered women and has urged communities to monitor weather warnings and report any suspicious activity. The President's address and the government's efforts aim to provide support to survivors of GBV and to prevent further instances of violence against women.
Key points
- President Cyril Ramaphosa assures families of murdered women in Ekurhuleni that their cases will not go cold.
- The government is strengthening coordination across the criminal justice system and survivor-support services to address GBVF.
- The President urges members of the public with information on the killings to come forward and assist the police with their investigations.
