South Africa unveils plan to combat violence against women after 11 killings

South Africa's president has announced urgent action after the killing of at least 11 women in just two months.

Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled a series of new measures to combat gender-based violence following the spate of deaths near Johannesburg.

In a televised addressed on Tuesday, Mr Ramaphosa announced that an audit of women's safety would be completed within 60 days.

Under the measure, local authorities will be required to identify dangerous and high-risk areas, including places with broken streetlights, abandoned buildings and poorly secured parks.

Mr Ramaphosa also ordered police and the National Prosecuting Authority to review 90 days of unresolved cases including murders, attempted murders, rapes and other gender-based violence cases.

The recent spate of killings in Ekurhuleni has seen as many as 11 women, with the latest victim's body being found on Sunday.

The community remains on high alert while authorities investigate whether a serial killer or killers are behind the murders.

The bodies have all been found since July, with the victims being women in their 20s and 30s.

Six bodies were found in Ekurhuleni over just 10 days earlier this month.

Four suspects have since been arrested in connection to the killings, Mr Ramaphosa said.

In some cases, police have identified persons of interest and collected forensic material, including DNA, blood samples, clothing, mobile phones and phone records.

The killings have stoked fear and anger over South Africa's long-term femicide and violent crime problem.

"This cannot be accepted as a normal part of life in South Africa," Mr Ramaphosa said.

"We must confront an uncomfortable truth. What we have done has not been enough."

He said the audits would be followed by funded plans to address the identified hotspots and backlogs in solving gender-based violent crimes.

South Africa recorded 5,427 homicides from April to July, according to the country's official crime statistics.

Its femicide rate is among the highest in the world, according to UN Women, the United Nations agency for gender equality.

Mr Ramaphosa urged men to lead the fight against gender-based violence, noting that most women who experience such violence know their attackers.

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A 2022 study by a South African thinktank found that more than 35% of South African adult women had experienced physical or sexual violence at some point.

"Women change their routes home, avoid going out at night and warn one another about dangerous places and dangerous men. We have placed the burden of male violence on women," Mr Ramaphosa said.

He said a high-level investigating team had been assigned to investigate the Ekurhuleni killings.

(c) Sky News 2026: South Africa unveils plan to combat violence against women after 11 killings