---
title: "President Introduces Measures to Combat Violence Against Women"
url: https://noti.group/president-introduces-measures-to-combat-violence-against-women/
language: en
publisher: "Noti Group"
section: "World News"
published: 2026-09-30T14:16:33.000Z
updated: 2026-10-02T05:09:52.484Z
id: ed625d92-997d-47d8-86a9-72099acd024c
source: "The Guardian World https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/30/south-africa-gender-based-violence-women-killings"
attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/president-introduces-measures-to-combat-violence-against-women/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story."
---

# President Introduces Measures to Combat Violence Against Women

South Africa's president has introduced measures to combat growing public outcry over recent murders of women.

South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has issued a call to action for men to take responsibility in addressing violence against women as he introduced measures to combat the issue.

The move comes amidst growing public outcry over recent murders of women, with many expressing frustration at the authorities' handling of these cases. Ramaphosa acknowledged that more needs to be done to protect women and girls from harm.

To address the backlog in forensic testing for crimes involving violence against women and children, police will conduct a thorough review of unsolved murders, attempted murders, and serious sexual offenses within 60 days. Additionally, they will produce a funded plan to reduce this backlog during the same timeframe.

The president also tasked five ministers with developing a comprehensive strategy to tackle alcohol-fueled violence over the next 60 days. This effort aims to address the role of excessive drinking in exacerbating interpersonal violence and abuse.

Ramaphosa emphasized that while alcohol use is not a direct cause of gender-based violence, it can be a significant contributing factor when combined with other factors.

The discovery of 11 women's bodies dumped across Ekurhuleni has sent shockwaves through South Africa, leaving a trail of grief and outrage in its wake. The gruesome find began on July 15, but it was the last three weeks that saw eight of these tragic cases come to light.

In an effort to reassure the public, President Ramaphosa announced that suspects had been arrested in connection with three of the killings. However, police investigations are ongoing and have yet to determine whether a single perpetrator is responsible for all 11 murders or if multiple individuals are involved.

The South African leader addressed his male countrymen directly, urging them to play an active role in combating gender-based violence. He implored men to speak out against harassment, humiliation, and abuse of women by their relatives, friends, and colleagues.

Ramaphosa emphasized that the burden of addressing male violence should not rest solely on women's shoulders. Instead, he called for men to take collective responsibility for creating a safer environment for women to live, work, and move about without fear of harm or intimidation.

The President's words come as no surprise given the harrowing statistics surrounding gender-based violence in South Africa. Women have long been forced to adapt their daily lives to avoid danger, altering their routes home and avoiding night-time activities due to concerns about male aggression.

Activists have expressed disappointment that concrete steps were not taken earlier to address the issue of gender-based violence.

Amnesty International South Africa has pointed out that the problem is long-standing and that efforts to tackle it began in 2019 when women took to the streets to protest against high levels of violence. Despite these efforts, attacks on women continue unabated. The organization's executive director, Shenilla Mohamed, emphasized that words alone are not enough.

The NGO Sonke Gender Justice has also criticized the government's response, saying it is too focused on addressing the aftermath of violence rather than preventing it in the first place. According to its representatives, Mpiwa Mangwiro-Tsanga and Bafana Khumalo, simply investigating unresolved cases and repairing public spaces is not a comprehensive strategy.

The president's call for municipalities to take action has been met with skepticism, given their history of failing to deliver on their responsibilities. Without tangible consequences for inaction, critics argue that the government's efforts will ultimately be ineffective.

---
Source: [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/sep/30/south-africa-gender-based-violence-women-killings)  
Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/president-introduces-measures-to-combat-violence-against-women/