‘Ramaphosa to address nation on Ekurhuleni murders, GBV response’ after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he will soon update South Africans on the government’s response to gender-based violence and the investigation into the killings of women in and around Ekurhuleni.

President Ramaphosa made the announcement during the 2026 National Heritage Day celebrations at Bongolethu Sports Stadium in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, on Thursday, 24 September.

The President said his forthcoming address would outline the steps government is taking to confront gender-based violence (GBV) and provide an update on investigations into the deaths of women in the Ekurhuleni area.

The announcement comes after the discovery of the bodies of nine women in Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas over the past two months. Police investigations have been prioritised, with a specialised multidisciplinary team supporting the investigation.

President Ramaphosa said the safety and dignity of women must form part of the country’s understanding of its heritage and called for a South Africa where women can move around without fear of violence.

Ramaphosa announces national GBV address

Ramaphosa told people attending the Heritage Day event that he would address the nation within the coming days.

The planned address is expected to focus on two key areas: the government’s broader response to gender-based violence and the latest developments in the investigation into the killings of women in and around Ekurhuleni.

The Presidency’s official transcript confirms that Ramaphosa made the announcement during his keynote Heritage Day address. He linked the issue of women’s safety to the country’s broader efforts to build a society where citizens can experience freedom and dignity.

The announcement follows an earlier directive from the President that the investigations into the Ekurhuleni killings should receive the highest level of attention from law enforcement agencies.

President says women’s safety must be protected

During his address, Ramaphosa said the abuse, rape and killing of women could not be regarded as part of South Africa’s heritage.

He said women should have the right to walk the streets of the country at any hour without fear.

The President also described the suffering experienced by women in South Africa as a national concern and connected the issue to the country’s broader challenge of ensuring that freedom is experienced equally by all citizens.

His comments came as families continued to mourn women whose bodies were discovered in the Ekurhuleni area.

Ekurhuleni murders investigation remains a priority

The Ekurhuleni murders have triggered a major law-enforcement response after nine women’s bodies were discovered in the region since July.

The government has said the deaths are being investigated by a specialised multidisciplinary team. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide said it received a briefing on the investigations and the steps being taken to accelerate efforts to identify those responsible.

The team includes specialised investigative resources and is being coordinated at a senior level within the South African Police Service.

Earlier reports from police indicated that progress had been made, with persons of interest questioned as investigators continued examining possible connections between the cases.

Police have also cautioned that they have not established conclusively that all the killings are connected or that a serial killer is responsible.

SABC News reported that three persons of interest had been called in for questioning, while investigators continued examining differences in the circumstances and possible motives involved in the cases.

Nine women found dead in Ekurhuleni

The deaths have led to widespread concern among communities across the East Rand.

The South African government confirmed that nine women had been found dead in Ekurhuleni and surrounding areas over the preceding two months.

The investigation has also involved efforts to identify victims and establish the circumstances surrounding their deaths.

SABC News reported that one of the victims, Dineo Motapane, was being mourned on Heritage Day, while community members and civil society groups continued calling for action against violence against women.

The cases have placed renewed attention on the country’s long-running challenge of violence against women and girls.

Gender-based violence response under scrutiny

The forthcoming address means the government’s GBV response will receive renewed national attention.

Ramaphosa has previously spoken about the need to strengthen measures against gender-based violence and femicide. The latest announcement comes as communities and advocacy groups continue demanding effective action to prevent violence against women.

The President’s Heritage Day remarks placed the issue within a broader discussion about the meaning of South African heritage.

According to the Presidency, Ramaphosa argued that the country’s heritage should include a commitment to equality, dignity and safety rather than violence against women.

The President also identified GBV, unemployment, corruption and alcohol and drug abuse among challenges that South Africans need to confront collectively.

Government’s response to the killings

Government has already announced measures in response to the Ekurhuleni killings.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide said a multidisciplinary specialised investigation team had been established to investigate the cases.

The team was subsequently elevated to be coordinated by the Deputy National Commissioner for Detective Services after Ramaphosa directed that the killings receive the highest level of attention from government and law-enforcement agencies.

The government’s stated focus is to accelerate investigations, identify those responsible and ensure that affected families receive the necessary support.

Ramaphosa had also previously said law-enforcement agencies were working urgently to establish the facts surrounding the killings.

Women killings investigation continues

The women killings investigation remains ongoing, with detectives continuing to examine forensic and other evidence.

Police have not publicly confirmed that a single perpetrator is responsible for all the deaths.

This distinction remains important as investigators work to establish whether individual cases are connected. Authorities have indicated that differences in circumstances, possible motives and modus operandi are being examined.

The investigation is therefore expected to continue alongside efforts to identify suspects and determine whether evidence supports criminal charges.

The President’s planned address is expected to provide South Africans with a further update on the government’s response and the progress of the investigation.

Families continue to demand answers

For families of the victims, the investigation is about more than national statistics.

Each death has left relatives and communities seeking answers about what happened and why their loved ones were killed.

The government has said affected families and communities should receive support while law-enforcement agencies pursue justice.

Community concern has also intensified around the wider issue of safety for women, particularly in areas where the bodies were discovered.

The killings have consequently become part of a broader national conversation about GBV, femicide, policing and the protection of women.

Ramaphosa links Heritage Day to women’s safety

Ramaphosa’s announcement came during a Heritage Day speech centered on the theme of “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us.”

The national event was held at Bongolethu Sports Stadium in Oudtshoorn, where the President reflected on the meaning of freedom, equality, unity and safety in modern South Africa.

He argued that the country’s heritage should not be understood only through cultural traditions but also through the values South Africans want to pass on to future generations.

The President specifically connected this idea to the safety of women.

He said violence against women should not form part of the inheritance left to the next generation.

This framing made the Ekurhuleni killings a central part of his message on Heritage Day.

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What to expect from Ramaphosa’s address

The forthcoming national address is expected to provide an update on the government’s GBV response and the latest developments in the Ekurhuleni murders investigation.

It remains unclear from the President’s announcement exactly when the address will take place or what additional measures will be announced.

However, Ramaphosa has already indicated that South Africans will receive an update on both the government’s response to gender-based violence and the investigation into the killings.

The President previously directed law-enforcement agencies to prioritise the cases and ensure that all available investigative resources are used.

For now, investigators continue working on the cases while police and government face pressure to provide answers to families and communities.

The planned address will therefore be closely watched for information about the women killings investigation, government measures against GBV and any new developments concerning the Ekurhuleni cases.

‘Ramaphosa to address nation on Ekurhuleni murders, GBV response’ marks another significant development in the government’s handling of the killings and the wider national response to violence against women.