Rise in calls to gender violence center coincides with increase in women's deaths in Ekurhuleni

The Department of Social Development reported an alarming increase in calls related to gender-based violence (GBV) received by its 24-hour Gender-Based Violence Centre (GBVCC). This surge followed a series of femicide cases in Ekurhuleni, where the police identified the names of seven out of nine murdered women.

Some victims were found with missing body parts, while the bodies of others were discovered naked or partially clothed, with some showing signs of injury.

Among the victims were named individuals such as Busisive Malangu, found on July 15, 2026, in Kempton Park, and Itumeleng Kekana, found on August 3, 2026. The tragic discoveries continued with Nomphesane Mjobo, whose body was found on August 26, 2026, and an unidentified woman swimming in the Clayville River in Olifantsfontein on September 7, 2026.

The level of violence escalated with the discovery of Graceys Nkomo and Elizabeth Moselakgomo in Kempton Park on September 10 and 12, 2026, respectively. Another victim remained unnamed until family notification, and Dineo Motapane and Jabulile Ntimba were tragically found on September 15 and 17, 2026.

Police have not yet confirmed whether these cases are connected or if one perpetrator is involved. The identification of names occurred against the backdrop of Gauteng police beginning an investigation after the grim discovery of a young woman's body in Soweto on Sunday.

According to police, this woman's body was wrapped in a blanket and dumped in a waterway in Moroka on Sunday evening. Sandy Goldwan, speaking on behalf of the Department of Social Development, noted that the increased public attention to femicide and gender-based violence is evident.

Preliminary statistics showed that from September 1 to September 16, the GBVCC received a staggering 6,782 calls, averaging 424 per day. This represents a notable increase of 21% compared to the previous month, when the centre recorded an average of 350 calls daily.

The final days of this two-week period were marked by a sharp increase in calls—from September 13 to September 16, daily appeals reached around 500, peaking on September 16 with the highest number recorded at 589 calls. This coincided with the escalation of violence against women and widespread fear among communities, particularly noticeable in the Ekurhuleni district of Gauteng province.

iol.co.zaSeptember 17, 08:13

569 women killed in South Africa in three months; investigation into the murder of eight women in Ekurhuleni deepens

According to data from the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), between April and June 2026, 569 cases of female murders and 1052 attempted murders were registered in South Africa. Furthermore, 8814 rape cases were recorded in the first quarter of this year.

The Commission condemned the deaths of eight women in the Ekurhuleni area, Gauteng province. The bodies of these women were found in different locations over the past two months, and the police are intensifying the investigation to establish a link between these deaths.

SAHRC expressed condolences to the families who lost loved ones and stated that 'South Africa is not a safe place for women.'

Violence against women as a pervasive threat

The Commission emphasized the importance of a point made by Judge Khampepe in the case of S v Tshabalala; Ntuli v S (2019). The judge noted that the notion that rape is committed by sexually deviant monsters without self-control is erroneous. She cited examples from legal databases that refute this idea, pointing out that perpetrators are often fathers, brothers, uncles, husbands, lovers, mentors, bosses, and colleagues—ordinary people leading normal lives.

In the opinion of SAHRC, these comments demonstrate the widespread nature of violence against women. The Commission stated that this phenomenon is present in all spheres of society and constitutes an inevitable, constant threat to women's lives. Moreover, women continue to largely fight this problem alone, and they should not be expected to fight gender-based violence or take extraordinary precautions for everyday life on their own.

It was noted with disappointment that despite President Cyril Ramaphosa declaring gender-based violence and femicide a national catastrophe in 2025, violence against women remains a societal evil that deprives women of their fundamental constitutional rights, such as the right to life, security, dignity, and freedom.

Latest crime statistics

SAHRC reiterated that between April and June 2026, 569 women were killed and 1052 people survived attempted murder. Information was also released stating that 8814 rape cases were registered in the first quarter of 2026.

The Commission also highlighted the prevalence of violence against women and children in schools. Its 2026 report, titled 'The Scourge of Sexual Violence at Schools: A Crisis of Fragmentation, Delayed Integration, and Uneven Enforcement', describes the alarming prevalence of sexual violence in educational institutions. The report calls for enhanced protection of students against sexual violence, whether committed by teachers, peers, staff, service providers, or outsiders.

Calls for a more decisive state response

Due to the persistent prevalence of violence against women, SAHRC, in collaboration with the Gender Equality Commission and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities, has initiated a historic joint national investigation. This investigation will examine the processes of reporting, victim support, investigation, and pre-trial functioning of the criminal justice system in response to gender-based violence in South Africa. It is scheduled from September 28 to October 2, 2026.

The Commission reported that these three constitutional bodies aim to assess the registration, victim support, investigation, prosecution, sentencing, and rehabilitation of gender-based violence cases in South Africa. SAHRC welcomed the establishment of the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide in August 2026 and urged the state to ensure that this council is legally, structurally, and financially equipped for a meaningful response to the crisis.

Municipalities called upon to improve safety

The Commission also noted that its investigative reports on municipal service delivery revealed the role of local authorities in creating safer communities. It was recommended that open fields be properly maintained, high grass cut, abandoned buildings reconstructed, street lighting ensured to be functional, and water and sanitation infrastructure made accessible in safe areas.

The Commission demanded that all law enforcement agencies conduct thorough investigations to hold those responsible for violent crimes accountable. It reported positive shifts in the arrest of one suspect and the identification of a second suspect. SAHRC also appealed to the public and civil society organizations to contribute significantly to the upcoming joint investigation into gender-based violence, emphasizing that broad participation will help address shortcomings in the state's response to gender-based violence and femicide.

Eight bodies discovered

The first body was found on July 15 when a 37-year-old woman, naked and tied with cable ties, was discovered in an open field in Kempton Park. The suspect, allegedly the victim's partner, was arrested in connection with the murder on July 17. On August 3, the body of Itumeleng Kekana was found in Kempton Park. On September 7, the body of a woman, presumably around 20 years old and wearing only underwear, was found in a river in Clayville, Olifantsfontein, near Thembisa Mall. On the same day in Olifantsfontein, another unidentified woman's body was discovered. On September 10, an unidentified woman's body, which was naked and in an advanced stage of decomposition, was found near Kempton Park; the police were conducting forensic procedures to identify her.

On September 12 in Rhodesfield, Kempton Park, the remains of 38-year-old Elizabeth 'Tsonzo' Moselakgomo, partially naked and bruised, were found. Her family identified her on September 14. On September 14 in Olifantsfontein, the body of another unidentified woman was found after a witness reported it to the authorities; the police reported that the body was partially naked and had bruises. On September 15 in Kwa-Tembe, Springs, the body of 38-year-old Dineo Evelyn Motapane, naked and in a state of decomposition, was found. Police reported that Motapane was last seen alive on Sunday, and her family had not reported her missing until the body was discovered. Her family identified her at the Springs morgue on Wednesday afternoon.

As a reward for information leading to the successful arrest of those responsible for the death of eight women in Ekurhuleni, the Democratic Alliance offered 500,000 rand. DA Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate Khathutshelo Rasilingwane announced the reward near the Kempton Park police station on Wednesday, where demonstrators held placards reading 'Am I next?' and 'We demand justice.' The police separately offered a reward of 400,000 rand for information that could lead to an arrest. Current National Commissioner of Police Puleng Dimpane announced the police reward on Tuesday evening during a media briefing, urging the public and families to report missing relatives in the area. Investigations are ongoing, and the police are examining the circumstances of each death and any possible links between the cases.

iol.co.zaSeptember 15, 15:18

Despite declaring GBVF a national catastrophe, murders of women continue in South Africa

In South Africa, students and staff from DUT marched silently through Durban to honor the memory of victims of gender-based violence and femicide, and to call for an end to violence, fear, and silence.

In the eThekwini area, the body of a sixth woman was found in approximately two months. Police are investigating possible links between these cases but warn that it is too early to speak of a serial killer's guilt.

Nevertheless, this should not distract from the broader crisis. South Africa does not lack reports of GBVF; it lacks consequences, protection, and urgency.

The case of 38-year-old Elizabeth 'Ntontso' Moselakgomo intensified public anger. Moselakgomo, a mother, went missing after going for a run. Her family later identified her body at the Germiston morgue. The police deployed specialized resources to investigate her death alongside other murders.

The circumstances of the deaths are still being determined, and it would be irresponsible to claim that the women were killed by the same person before investigators establish that. However, six bodies in a concentrated geographical area demand an exceptional response.

Police have already involved multidisciplinary investigators and forensic specialists. One suspect is in custody in connection with the first body found in July. Investigators are now working to identify connections between these cases. Therefore, the public needs more than just assurances that investigations are underway; it needs results.

Because for the women living in eThekwini, the question is not whether the authorities will eventually explain what happened, but whether the state can prevent the next woman from becoming another case.

Murders in eThekwini occur against the backdrop of a national crisis. SAPS registered the murder of 569 women between April and June 2026, as well as 9201 rape cases. Over 60% of the rape cases sampled occurred in residential premises, challenging the notion that violence against women is a danger lurking somewhere outside the home.

The scale of this is precisely what led the government to classify GBVF as a national catastrophe in November 2025. This classification was intended to allow the government to coordinate its response, direct resources to the crisis, and strengthen accountability. The government also established a National GBVF Council to coordinate the national response.

However, almost a year after the declaration of the catastrophe, frontline organizations continue to report serious resource issues. The South African National Shelter Movement states that about 90% of shelters supported by them are struggling with funding and other forms of support. These facilities may be necessary for women trying to escape abusive homes, receive counseling, legal aid, or protect their children.

This reveals a fundamental contradiction. If GBVF is a national catastrophe, the infrastructure protecting its victims cannot be treated as a secondary issue.

South Africa is not alone in the fight against femicide. In Cameroon, reports indicate that over 120 women have been killed by intimate partners since the beginning of the year. In response, the government launched a three-month national campaign targeting femicide, domestic violence, gender inequality, and male dominance, focusing on prevention, reporting crimes, and prosecution.

Cameroon's campaign itself does not solve the problem. Campaigns only make sense when backed by functioning institutions. But the comparison raises an important question for South Africa: what does emergency action look like when a crisis has already been officially recognized?

It should mean swift police investigations. It should mean adequately funded shelters. It should mean prosecutors effectively handling cases. It should mean the enforcement of protection orders. It should mean early intervention when patterns of abuse emerge. And it should mean confronting the attitudes among men who normalize control, the right to dominate, and violence against women.

The most dangerous response right now will be another cycle of outrage followed by another declaration. The state has already acknowledged the problem. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared GBVF a national catastrophe, and the government established a status National Council and promised increased policing, survivor support, and prevention programs.

The question is no longer whether the government understands the crisis. The question is whether the system delivers results. This means publishing measurable targets for investigations, prosecutions, convictions, protection orders, shelter capacity, and police responsiveness. It means identifying where resources are lacking and addressing those gaps instead of creating another layer of bureaucracy. And it means that men must become part of the solution, not just receive instructions to condemn violence after another woman dies.

The women found in eThekwini cannot be reduced to statistics. Nor can the 569 murdered women in three months be reduced to statistics. South Africa has already named GBVF a national catastrophe. Now the state must act as if it believes its own declaration.