Story perspectives

Ramaphosa Orders Ekurhuleni Women Murder Probe, R400,000 Reward

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 11:20 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Ramaphosa Orders Probe

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane announced a R400,000 reward for information on the murders.
President Cyril Ramaphosa directed police to prioritize the investigation of women's murders in Ekurhuleni.
One suspect was arrested in July for the first discovered body and remains in custody.
Police increased patrols in Ekurhuleni to protect women.

Summary

Forensic Labs Overwhelmed

Forensic labs hold about 300,000 unprocessed DNA samples, creating an estimated 800-day backlog for the case.
The Economic Freedom Fighters say President Ramaphosa failed to fund the National Strategic Plan on gender-based violence.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Women’s League accuses the South African Police Service of delaying urgent communication when the pattern first emerged.
Community members staged protests with placards reading “Enough is Enough” and “Stop Femicide” demanding accountability.

History

Historical Context

After the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women framed domestic abuse as a rights violation, South Africa enacted the Domestic Violence Act in 1998, signed by Nelson Mandela, to create its first comprehensive legal framework. With South Africa listed among the world’s highest femicide rates (2004-2009), President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2024 order to curb women’s murders in Ekurhuleni echoes that legacy.

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Ramaphosa Orders Probe

Acting National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane announced a R400,000 reward for information on the murders.
President Cyril Ramaphosa directed police to prioritize the investigation of women's murders in Ekurhuleni.
One suspect was arrested in July for the first discovered body and remains in custody.
Police increased patrols in Ekurhuleni to protect women.

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