South Africa’s president has ordered a nationwide audit of unsafe streets that put women at risk, following the discovery of 12 women’s bodies in a two‑month period east of Johannesburg.
The killings have sparked a national outcry and highlighted the country’s high rate of gender‑based violence.
Ramaphosa announced a multi‑sector emergency response to reduce alcohol‑related violence and to enforce safety in high‑risk areas.
He said no gender‑based violence could be tolerated and acknowledged that South Africa had not done enough to protect women.
Local police have not identified a single perpetrator, and four arrests have been made so far.
Every municipality must begin a women’s safety audit without delay, stating that high‑risk zones need to be identified and remediated.
Audits should look for broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes, and poorly secured parks that pose risks.
Ramaphosa also instructed ministers to create an enforcement package to tackle alcohol‑driven violence, emphasising that responsibility lies with perpetrators, not the alcohol itself.
He stressed that true change starts earlier, in attitudes that view women as inferior and reinforce control over them.
The president called on men and boys to take charge in ending gender‑based violence and to stop placing the burden on women.
South Africa reported 5,427 murders between April and June, with the Human Rights Commission noting 569 women and 1,052 others survived attempted murder in that period.
