South Africa’s government has approved an emergency strategy aimed at accelerating investigations into the killings of nine women in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, as authorities intensify efforts to identify victims and track down those responsible.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide approved the Comprehensive Emergency Strategy following recommendations from the country’s National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, known as NATJOINTS.
Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Sindisiwe Chikunga announced the measures during a media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday.
Specialised Murder Investigation Elevated to National Level
A multidisciplinary specialised team already investigating the killings will now operate under higher-level coordination.
Chikunga said responsibility for coordinating the team had been elevated to the Deputy National Commissioner for Detective Services.
The move is intended to strengthen cooperation between investigators and accelerate efforts to identify and arrest those responsible for the women’s deaths.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee considered recommendations from NATJOINTS during a meeting on Thursday before approving the emergency response.
Emergency Plan Targets Prevention, Policing and Justice
According to Chikunga, the newly approved strategy is aligned with important components of South Africa’s National Strategic Plan addressing gender-based violence and femicide.
The response will focus on prevention and rebuilding social cohesion while strengthening law enforcement efforts.
Protection, safety and justice are also central elements of the plan, alongside support specifically designed around the needs of victims and survivors.
Government officials hope the coordinated approach will help investigators make progress while addressing fear within communities affected by the killings.
One of Nine Women Remains Unidentified
Authorities have recovered the bodies of nine women during the investigation, but questions remain surrounding one of the victims.
Chikunga revealed that no missing-person report matching one of the recovered bodies had been filed.
The government is consequently appealing to families to check on female relatives who may be missing, particularly those with connections to Ekurhuleni.
Residents in and around Kempton Park, Kwa-Thema and Tembisa have been specifically urged to contact relatives and report anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established.
Families Told They Do Not Need to Wait 24 Hours
Chikunga also sought to address a common misconception about reporting missing people.
She stressed that South Africans do not need to wait 24 hours before filing a missing-person report with police.
Instead, families should contact their nearest police station as soon as they become concerned about someone’s disappearance.
Early reporting allows officers to begin investigative and search procedures immediately and can provide crucial additional time when attempting to locate a missing person.
Police Ask Families to Provide Photos and Key Information
Families making a missing-person report have been encouraged to provide investigators with as much information as possible.
This should include a recent photograph of the missing person, a physical description and details about where and when they were last seen.
Any other information that could help investigators establish their movements or identify people they may have encountered should also be supplied.
Authorities hope the public appeal could assist them in identifying the remaining woman and potentially provide additional leads in the wider investigation.
Public Urged to Share Information Directly With Police
Anyone with information about the Ekurhuleni killings has been asked to contact investigators.
Information can be provided to Warrant Officer Elvis Manyike on 082 465 7249 or through the South African Police Service Crime Stop line on 08600 10111.
Chikunga urged people with potential evidence or information to contact police directly rather than distributing it through social media or informal community groups.
Investigators are particularly concerned that speculation and unverified information circulating online could interfere with their work.
Government Warns Against Sharing Graphic Images and Victim Details
The minister also appealed for restraint when discussing the killings online.
She warned that circulating unverified allegations, graphic photographs or victims’ personal information could cause further distress to grieving families.
Such material could also generate unnecessary fear or prejudice within communities and potentially compromise active police investigations.
Members of the public have therefore been encouraged to allow investigators to assess information before claims are widely circulated.
Families Receiving Psycho-Social Support
Alongside the criminal investigation, the Department of Social Development has begun providing psycho-social assistance to families of victims who have already been identified.
Chikunga said support is being provided according to the individual needs of affected families.
The minister stressed that the victims should not simply be viewed as statistics in South Africa’s continuing struggle against gender-based violence.
“Each of these women was a human being of equal dignity, with relationships, hopes and a rightful place in our society,” she said.
Government Pledges to Pursue Justice
Chikunga said the government would continue supporting affected families while law-enforcement agencies pursue those responsible for the killings.
The emergency strategy brings together policing, investigation, victim support and preventative measures as authorities attempt to respond to the deaths and wider concerns about violence against women.
Government officials have not announced arrests in connection with the nine deaths in the information released so far.
The intensified investigation will now be coordinated at senior national detective level as authorities work to establish the circumstances surrounding each death and determine whether connections exist between the cases.
GBV Support Services Remain Available Nationwide
South Africans experiencing gender-based violence or seeking assistance for someone affected can contact the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre.
The centre can be reached on 0800 428 428.
People can also send a Please Call Me request to 1207867#, send an SMS containing the word “HELP” to 31531, or contact the service through Skype using Helpme GBV.
As investigators continue their work in Ekurhuleni, authorities are urging families and community members to report missing women quickly and provide any credible information that could help identify the remaining victim or lead police to those responsible for the killings.
