Series of Female Homicides in Ekurhuleni Raises Concern Over Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
Nine women have been found murdered in the Ekurhuleni area since July, prompting calls for stronger action against gender-based violence and a proposal to classify femicide as a distinct crime.
South African authorities are investigating a cluster of murders in the Ekurhuleni district east of Johannesburg, where nine women have been discovered dead since July. The latest victim, 38-year-old Dineo Motapane, was found partially burned in a residential neighbourhood, two days after her family identified her body.
Police have made a single arrest related to the first discovery on 15 July, but no further suspects have been detained in connection with the subsequent killings. Officials have not confirmed whether the cases are linked to a serial offender.
The Human Rights Commission reported that 569 women were killed in South Africa between April and June, averaging six femicides per day, alongside more than 1,000 attempted murders. The figures have intensified public pressure on a government that declared gender-based violence a national disaster last year.
"We must leave no stone unturned in investigating these crimes," President Cyril Ramaphosa said, urging national commitment to the safety and dignity of women and girls.
Amnesty International called for femicide to be recognised as a separate offence, arguing that specific legislation would help the state track and address gender-motivated killings.
Local activists and families of the victims have expressed fear and frustration. > "If the police cannot protect us, the government must step in," said Lumina Maqhubela of the Girl2Woman Foundation, referencing the lack of safety in homes and public spaces.
The situation underscores ongoing concerns about gender-based violence in South Africa, which already has one of the highest rates of such crimes globally.