South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on September 29, 2026, a clean-up initiative targeting high-risk areas across the country following the discovery of the bodies of 12 women in an area east of Johannesburg over the past two months. This situation has raised national concern regarding the prevalence of violence against women in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence globally.
In a national address, Ramaphosa described a multidisciplinary, national-level emergency response to the murders, which have led to four arrests. He stated that gender-based violence "cannot be accepted as a normal part of life in South Africa" and acknowledged that the government has "not done enough" to protect women and girls.
Ramaphosa expressed concern that the proximity of the discovered bodies could suggest a single perpetrator, although he clarified that police have not found evidence to support this theory. He announced a series of measures aimed at enhancing the safety of women and girls, including a directive for every municipality to conduct a women's safety audit immediately. This audit is intended to identify high-risk areas and address issues such as broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes, and poorly secured parks.
Additionally, Ramaphosa introduced an "enforcement package" aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence, emphasizing that while alcohol does not cause gender-based violence, it is a significant aggravating factor. He underscored the need for a cultural shift to reduce violence against women and girls, stating that the issue begins with societal attitudes that view women as inferior and allow for control over them.
Ramaphosa called on men and boys to take responsibility in combating gender-based violence, asserting that the burden of male violence should not fall on women. He reiterated that solutions should not involve limiting women's freedoms.
According to South African police statistics, the country has one of the highest homicide rates, with 5,427 murders reported between April and June of this year. The South African Human Rights Commission noted that during the same period, 569 women were killed and 1,052 survived attempted murder.