President Cyril Ramaphosa has given government departments and municipalities strict deadlines to address unresolved GBV cases, forensic backlogs and dangerous public spaces as South Africa battles an escalating crisis of violence against women.
In a national address on Tuesday night, 29 September, Ramaphosa announced a four-point intervention that places several government authorities under 30-, 60- and 90-day deadlines.
The plan comes after the recent killings of women, including the discovery of the bodies of 13 women in Ekurhuleni.
Ramaphosa said government needed to move beyond repeated commitments and deliver measurable action.
“What we have done is not enough. We need to do much more,” he said.
“As president of the republic, I acknowledge this. As a government, we must do better. As a society, we must do better.”
Police and Justice face deadlines
The Ministers of Police and Justice have been directed to launch a national case recovery process targeting unresolved cases involving the murder, rape and assault of women and children.
Authorities have 30 days to establish the number of unresolved cases.
Within 90 days, a plan must be developed to determine how those cases will be progressed.
Ramaphosa has also ordered the South African Police Service and other relevant authorities to address forensic backlogs involving GBV and crimes against children.
A plan to deal with the backlog must be outlined within 60 days.
The deadlines are part of an effort to strengthen the criminal justice response to GBV and ensure unresolved cases receive renewed attention.
Municipalities ordered to identify safety risks
Municipalities have also been placed at the centre of the government’s response.
Ramaphosa directed every municipality to conduct a women’s safety audit aimed at identifying locations and infrastructure that may expose women to danger.
The audits must identify problems including broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, unsafe transport routes, parks and other facilities.
Within 60 days, municipalities must identify the most urgent risks.
Within 90 days of completing the audits, those hazards must either be addressed or have a clear action plan with deadlines.
The President said the response could not rely solely on increased policing.
“We cannot police our way out of gender-based violence,” he said.
Liquor outlets targeted
Alcohol consumption will also form part of the government’s intervention.
Ramaphosa directed authorities to take action against liquor outlets that breach their licences.
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition and other government departments have been instructed to develop measures aimed at reducing alcohol consumption and alcohol-related violence.
The President said alcohol was a significant factor contributing to violence and required specific attention.
Ekurhuleni investigation continues
The President said the investigation into the killings in Ekurhuleni was receiving attention at the highest level.
A multidisciplinary investigation is under way, with arrests already made and additional people of interest identified.
“These cases will not be allowed to go cold,” Ramaphosa said, appealing to the public to provide information that could assist investigators.
Visible policing will also be increased in the affected area.
Earlier on Tuesday, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said Cabinet had condemned the killings and welcomed the arrest of four suspects linked to three of the murders.
The suspects remain in custody after being denied bail, she said.
Ramaphosa said government’s implementation of the plan would be monitored through a consolidated report due within 90 days, followed by quarterly updates.
Additional funding and resources will also be made available, with further details expected from the Minister of Finance in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement.
The 90-day deadline now places pressure on government and municipalities to turn the President’s commitments into measurable action on the ground.