Ramaphosa announces new measures to tackle GBVF after Kempton Park killings - IOL

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a series of measures and directives aimed at strengthening the government’s response to gender-based violence and femicide.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a series of measures and directives aimed at strengthening the government’s response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), including a national review of unresolved cases and mandatory safety audits in municipalities.

Ramaphosa announced the measures while addressing South Africans on Tuesday evening following a series of killings of women in and around Ekurhuleni.

The address follows the discovery of the bodies of 11 women in the Ekurhuleni area since July, which prompted mounting concern and renewed calls for government action.

Ramaphosa said the recent killings had highlighted the need for government and society to do more to protect women.

One of the measures announced by Ramaphosa is a national case recovery operation focusing on unresolved murders, attempted murders and rape cases involving women and children.

He directed the Minister of Police, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the police leadership to undertake the review.

“Within 60 days this audit must identify unresolved cases,” Ramaphosa said.

“Within 90 days recovery plans must be in place for these cases.”

The review is intended to identify cases that have stalled and determine what is required to move priority cases forward.

Ramaphosa also directed the Minister of Police and the National Police Commissioner to develop a plan to reduce forensic backlogs in GBVF cases.

The measures are aimed at ensuring that cases do not remain unresolved indefinitely.

“These cases are not allowed to go cold,” Ramaphosa said.

“We will use all capabilities. We will continue to provide information as investigations progress.”

Ramaphosa also announced that every municipality must conduct a women’s safety audit to identify areas where women may be at risk.

The audits must be completed within 60 days and must identify hazards including broken street lights, poorly secured parks and cemeteries, overgrown grass, hijacked buildings and other areas that could present risks to women.

“Every municipality must undertake a women’s safety audit,” Ramaphosa said.

“Within 60 days, these audits must identify broken street lights, poorly secured parks and cemeteries and all places that present women to risk.”

He said urgent hazards identified through the audits must be addressed within 90 days.

The high-risk areas identified through the process will also be published.

The directive comes alongside existing government efforts in Ekurhuleni to improve environmental safety, including clearing overgrown areas and illegal dumping and increasing police visibility.

Ramaphosa said visible policing had already been increased in Ekurhuleni following the killings.

However, he stressed that policing alone would not solve the country's GBV crisis.

“We have increased visible policing in Ekurhuleni,” he said.

“We cannot police our way out of gender-based violence alone. Our task must be to prevent violence before it happens.”

The government has previously said that a multidisciplinary specialised investigation team has been established to investigate the Ekurhuleni killings, while law enforcement visibility has been increased through Operation Shanela.

Ramaphosa also called for the enforcement of liquor laws and municipal by-laws as part of efforts to address conditions that can contribute to unsafe environments.

The President also appealed to members of the public to speak up if they have information about violence against women or the Ekurhuleni killings.

“Say something,” he urged those who may know something about the cases.

He stressed that people do not have to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing.

“There is no requirement to wait 24 hours for a missing person. Report it immediately. Hours matter. Information matters.”

The government has previously made the same appeal following the Ekurhuleni killings, saying early reporting allows police to begin searches and investigations without delay.

“How can our hearts not be broken? How can we not be angry?” he said.

He said the names of the victims might be new, but the crimes were not.

“The names of the victims are new, but the crimes are not,” Ramaphosa said.

“We must confront an uncomfortable truth. What we have done is not enough. We must do more.

“As President, I acknowledge this. As government, we must do better. As society, we must do better.”

Ramaphosa said the government would continue to provide updates as investigations progress.

The President's announcement follows earlier directives for the Ekurhuleni murders to be prioritised by law enforcement, after the discovery of multiple women's bodies in the area.

Ramaphosa said the government recognised that stronger action was needed to confront GBVF.

“As President, I acknowledge this. As government, we must do better. As society, we must do better,” he said.