South Africa has launched a nationwide emergency response to gender-based violence following the discovery of the bodies of 12 women east of Johannesburg over a two-month period.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a nationwide audit of areas considered high-risk for women and girls as authorities intensify efforts to address the growing threat of gender-based violence.
Four people have been arrested in connection with the killings, as investigations into the deaths continue.
Ramaphosa directed authorities to identify and address security gaps that could expose women to violence.
The audit will focus on areas including broken streetlights, abandoned buildings, overgrown public spaces, unsafe transport routes and poorly secured parks.
The President said improving safety in such locations would form part of broader efforts to prevent violence against women and girls.
He also announced an enforcement package targeting alcohol-related violence, noting that harmful alcohol use is a significant factor in interpersonal violence.
However, Ramaphosa stressed that alcohol does not cause or excuse gender-based violence.
The President acknowledged that the government had not done enough in recent years to prevent gender-based violence and announced additional measures aimed at strengthening the protection of women and girls.
Ramaphosa also called for deeper efforts to challenge social attitudes that promote male control over women, arguing that preventing gender-based violence requires action before an assault occurs.
The latest deaths have renewed public concern over the scale of violence against women in South Africa.
According to figures cited in the report, the country recorded 5,427 murders between April and June this year.
During the same three-month period, the South African Human Rights Commission reported that 569 women were killed, while another 1,052 women survived attempted murder.
The latest government measures are expected to focus on improving safety in public spaces, strengthening law enforcement and addressing broader social factors linked to violence against women and girls.
