Pretoria – Cabinet has called for a broader societal response to gender-based violence and femicide as the number of women killed in Gauteng rises to 13.
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni made the call during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria, where she said government could not tackle the scourge alone.
Ntshavheni said Cabinet was mourning the nine women whose bodies were found in different parts of Ekurhuleni, with the wider number of women killed in Gauteng now standing at 13.
“Cabinet condemns the rising incidents of gender-based violence and femicide,” she said.
Cabinet also welcomed the arrest of four suspects in connection with three of the murders. The suspects remain in custody after being denied bail during separate court appearances, according to Ntshavheni.
WATCH | Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says Cabinet strongly condemns gender-based violence and femicide, and is committed to ensuring perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice. She urges communities to play an active role in combating the scourge. pic.twitter.com/qSxF2u1GuP
— SABC News (@SABCNews) September 29, 2026
She said Cabinet supported President Cyril Ramaphosa’s directive for a multidisciplinary investigation team led by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to speed up the arrests and prosecution of those responsible.
“The team are pursuing several people of interest,” Ntshavheni said.
Police have previously said they are investigating the individual cases and examining whether there are links between some of the killings, but have stopped short of confirming that a single perpetrator or group is responsible.
Ntshavheni said the rise in femicide required action beyond law enforcement, calling on men, families, communities and society as a whole to play a role in protecting women.
She defined femicide as the intentional killing of a woman by a person close to her and said such killings could not be tolerated.
“Because the murder of women intentionally by their loved ones or people close to them cannot be tolerated by any society, by any community, and it requires all our efforts to respond,” she said.
She also urged men to take a stand against violence against women.
“Let us all, men and women, take a stand against violence against women and play our part in ending this scourge of gender-based violence.”
Ntshavheni said law enforcement agencies must ensure that those responsible for the killings are identified and brought before the courts.
She said government had strengthened laws dealing with gender-based violence and femicide, including provisions allowing courts to deny bail in certain circumstances.
“Law enforcement must ensure that those who are responsible for the killing of women are found expeditiously and face the might of the law,” she said.
The government would continue working to improve the safety and wellbeing of women and children, Ntshavheni added.
The killings in Ekurhuleni have triggered growing concern since July, when police began investigating a series of cases involving women whose bodies were discovered in different parts of the municipality. Police have since intensified operations and investigations in the area.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
