Sunita SomvanshiSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a sweeping national response on Tuesday, ordering every municipality to identify and clean up high-risk areas after the bodies of 12 women were discovered in an area east of Johannesburg over two months. Four arrests have been made, but police say they have found no evidence that a single perpetrator is responsible.
The deaths sparked a national outcry about the scale of violence against women in South Africa, which already has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. Ramaphosa admitted the government has not done enough to protect women and girls. “There has understandably been widespread fear that the discovery of these women in close proximity could indicate the work of a single perpetrator,” he said. “At present, the police have not found evidence establishing that these killings were committed by a single perpetrator.”
For the women living in the high-risk areas east of Johannesburg, the safety audit orders mean broken streetlights may finally be repaired, overgrown public spaces cleared, abandoned buildings secured, and transport routes made safer. Whether those audits actually happen — and whether they reach the neighbourhoods that need them most — will determine if the deaths lead to change or another wave of government promises. Read the BBC’s full report on the South Africa women’s killings.
Government Response and Enforcement Measures
Ramaphosa announced a multidisciplinary, national-level emergency response that includes women’s safety audits in every municipality and an enforcement package targeting alcohol-related violence. He drew a clear line on alcohol: “Alcohol does not cause gender-based violence and it can never excuse it. Responsibility always lies with the perpetrator. But harmful alcohol use is a significant aggravating factor in interpersonal violence, and it must be addressed as part of our wider prevention effort.”
The president also called for deeper social change, saying the problem “does not begin when a fist is raised. It begins much earlier. It begins in attitudes that regard women as inferior… with the belief that a man has the right to control a woman.”
South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence globally, according to the BBC. The United Nations has repeatedly flagged GBV as a crisis requiring coordinated international response. Safety audits are a proven tool — similar programmes in the UK and Australia have mapped dangerous public spaces and driven infrastructure improvements.
Priority Questions Answered
How many women were killed? Twelve women were found dead in an area east of Johannesburg over a two-month period, according to the BBC. Four arrests have been made.
What measures did Ramaphosa announce? Women’s safety audits in every municipality, an enforcement package targeting alcohol-related violence, and a call for deeper social and attitudinal change.
Are the killings linked? Police have made four arrests but said they have found no evidence establishing that the killings were committed by a single perpetrator.
What Comes Next
Ramaphosa’s nationwide address marked the government’s most direct response to the killings. The safety audits and enforcement package are scheduled to begin immediately. Whether they produce measurable results — fewer women killed, safer streets, higher conviction rates — will be the real test. Check back for updates.
