South Africa Announces New Measures Against Gender-Based Violence

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced new measures Tuesday to combat gender-based violence, a response to the killing of at least 11 women in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, since July.

Among the new initiatives is an audit of women's safety, to be completed within 60 days. Local authorities nationwide will be required to identify dangerous and high-risk areas, including locations with inadequate street lighting, abandoned buildings, and poorly secured parks.

Ramaphosa also directed police and the National Prosecuting Authority to review unresolved cases of murder, attempted murder, rape, and other gender-based violence offenses within 90 days. These directives were delivered during a televised national address.

The recent surge in killings in Ekurhuleni has instilled fear, particularly after the discovery of the 11th victim's body on Sunday. Authorities are investigating the possibility of a serial killer or multiple perpetrators. Four suspects have been arrested in connection with some of the cases, and police have identified persons of interest and collected forensic evidence, including DNA, blood samples, and cellphone records.

While the direct link between all the recent killings has not been officially confirmed, the incidents have amplified concerns about South Africa's persistent problems with femicide and violent crime. "This cannot be accepted as a normal part of life in South Africa," Ramaphosa stated. "We must confront an uncomfortable truth. What we have done has not been enough."

He indicated that the safety audits would be followed by funded action plans to address the identified hotspots and the backlog in resolving gender-based violence crimes.

South Africa's official crime statistics show 5,427 homicides between April and July. According to UN Women, the country's femicide rate ranks among the highest globally.

Ramaphosa urged men to take a leading role in combating gender-based violence, noting that perpetrators are often known to their victims. A 2022 study by a South African think tank found that over 35% of adult women in the country have experienced physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

"Women change their routes home, avoid going out at night and warn one another about dangerous places and dangerous men. We have placed the burden of male violence on women," Ramaphosa said. A high-level investigating team has been assigned to the Ekurhuleni killings.