South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered municipalities across the country to identify and address unsafe public spaces as part of a broader response to violence against women, following the discovery of 12 women’s bodies east of Johannesburg in recent weeks.
The killings, recorded over a two-month period, have intensified concern over gender-based violence in South Africa and prompted calls for stronger government action.
In a televised address on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said every municipality must immediately conduct a women’s safety audit to identify areas that could place women at greater risk.
The audits will focus on problems including broken streetlights, abandoned buildings, overgrown public spaces, poorly secured parks and unsafe transport routes and facilities.
Ramaphosa acknowledged that authorities had not done enough to protect women and girls, saying gender-based violence could not be treated as a normal part of life.
Police have made four arrests in connection with the recent killings. Ramaphosa said investigators had so far found no evidence that all 12 deaths were linked to a single perpetrator, despite public fears of a possible serial killer.
The president also instructed ministers to prepare measures aimed at reducing alcohol-related violence.
He stressed that alcohol does not cause or excuse gender-based violence, but said harmful alcohol use can aggravate interpersonal violence and should form part of wider prevention efforts.
Ramaphosa said tackling violence against women would require social change alongside policing and legislation, particularly attitudes that encourage control, coercion and discrimination against women.
He called on men and boys to take greater responsibility for confronting gender-based violence, saying women should not be expected to restrict their freedom in response to male violence.
South Africa continues to record high levels of violent crime. Police data showed 5,427 people were murdered between April and June this year.
The South African Human Rights Commission said 569 women were killed and another 1,052 survived attempted murder during the same three-month period.
