South Africa president announces measures to combat gender-based violence

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a multidisciplinary, national-level emergency response to gender-based violence on Tuesday, following the discovery of 12 women's bodies in an area east of Johannesburg over the past two months. The killings have intensified national outcry over the high rates of gender-based violence in the country.

Ramaphosa admitted that the government has not done enough in recent years to protect women and girls, stating that "There has understandably been widespread fear that the discovery of these women in close proximity could indicate the work of a single perpetrator." However, he noted that "At present, the police have not found evidence establishing that these killings were committed by a single perpetrator."

As part of the new measures, every municipality must conduct a women's safety audit to identify and address high-risk areas, such as those with broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, and unsafe transport routes. An "enforcement package" to reduce alcohol-related violence was also announced, though Ramaphosa stressed that perpetrators bear responsibility for their actions.

The president also called for a deeper societal change, emphasizing that violence against women begins with attitudes that regard women as inferior and with the belief that men have the right to control women. He urged men and boys to take the lead in ending gender-based violence, stating, "We have placed the burden of male violence on women. That must change."

South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates globally. Between April and June this year, 5,427 people were murdered. While police statistics do not differentiate victims by gender, the South African Human Rights Commission reported that 569 women were killed and 1,052 survived attempted murder during the same period.