South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced new measures to tackle gender-based violence in South Africa following a series of killings that sparked renewed concern across the country.
The announcement comes after at least 11 women were found dead in Ekurhuleni, east of Johannesburg, since mid-July.
Africanews, citing AFP and AP, reported that the discovery of the latest body on Sunday intensified concern over violence against women.
Authorities are investigating the deaths. Police have not established that the women were killed by a single perpetrator.
Gender-based violence in South Africa prompts new measures
Ramaphosa announced a nationwide women’s safety audit that must be completed within 60 days.
Local authorities will be required to identify dangerous and high-risk locations.
These include areas with broken streetlights, abandoned buildings and poorly secured parks.
The president also announced measures aimed at addressing alcohol abuse.
“The nation is angry. The women of South Africa are angry. Their anger is justified. I share that anger,” Ramaphosa said during a televised national address.
Unresolved cases to be reviewed
Ramaphosa also ordered police and the National Prosecuting Authority to review unresolved cases within 90 days.
The review will cover murder, attempted murder, rape and other gender-based violence cases.
A multidisciplinary national emergency response is also investigating the deaths in Ekurhuleni.
Four people are currently in police custody in connection with different killings, according to the report.
However, Ramaphosa stressed that investigators have not found evidence showing that all the deaths were caused by one person.
“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.”
Ekurhuleni killings raise concern
The latest woman’s body was discovered in open land on Sunday.
Another woman’s body was found near a cemetery in the same municipality the previous day.
Authorities continue to investigate whether there are links between the cases.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that previous efforts to tackle gender-based violence in South Africa had not been sufficient.
“What we have done has not been enough. We need to do much more,” he said.
South Africa recorded 5,427 homicides between April and July, according to official crime statistics cited in the report.
UN Women has also identified South Africa as having one of the world’s highest rates of femicide.
The latest measures will increase the focus on local safety conditions, unresolved cases and the investigations into the Ekurhuleni deaths.