Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Tuesday evening on the government’s response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), amid growing concern over the deaths of women in and around Ekurhuleni.
The address is scheduled for 7pm and will include an update on investigations into the murders of women in the City of Ekurhuleni, the Presidency confirmed.
“The President will this evening, Tuesday, 29 September 2026, address the nation on the steps being taken by Government to confront gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), and provide an update on investigations into the murder of women in and around the City of Ekurhuleni,” the Presidency said.
The address comes after a series of cases involving women whose bodies have been found across Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas since July.
The latest developments have intensified public concern over the safety of women and prompted renewed calls for authorities to strengthen investigations into the deaths.
Police have established a multidisciplinary investigation into the cases, involving detectives, forensic specialists, Crime Intelligence and other investigative resources. However, investigators have cautioned that they have not established that all the cases are connected.
PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS THE NATION
President @CyrilRamaphosa will this evening address the nation on the steps being taken by Government to confront gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), and provide an update on investigations into the murder of women in and around the City of… pic.twitter.com/8TMkaEzNEQ
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) September 29, 2026
Ramaphosa had previously announced that he would address the nation while speaking at the National Heritage Day celebrations in Oudtshoorn on 24 September.
“The abuse, rape and killing of women is not our heritage,” the President said at the time, adding that women should be able to walk the streets without fear of being attacked, raped or killed.
The President’s planned address also follows a memorial dialogue against GBVF held in Kempton Park earlier this month. In a message delivered on his behalf, Ramaphosa said the killings of women were part of a wider crisis of GBV and femicide facing South Africa.
He said the state, communities and individuals all had a responsibility to protect women and girls.
The government has also been facing renewed scrutiny over its response to GBV, with Parliament expected to debate the issue as a matter of national importance.
The SABC will provide a broadcast feed of Ramaphosa’s address to media organisations, while the Presidency will livestream the proceedings on its digital platforms.
The address is expected to provide an update on the investigations and outline the steps government intends taking to confront GBVF.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/@PresidencyZA
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
