Gauteng: The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has called for urgent safety measures in areas where the bodies of seven women have been discovered in Gauteng over the past two months. This comes after the latest discoveries were made on Tuesday when police found the body of a woman in a river in Gauteng. The body was partially decomposed, and the victim was partially naked.
According to South African Government News Agency, earlier on Tuesday, police found another woman's body on the side of a road in KwaThema, Springs. The woman was found fully naked and in an advanced state of decomposition. These two discoveries bring to seven the number of women whose bodies have been found in and around Kempton Park, Olifantsfontein, and along the R21 highway over the past two months. Among the victims is runner Elizabeth Moselakgomo, whose body was identified on Monday.
In a statement, the CGE said the State has a responsibility to create conditions where women can participate equally and freely in public life, including being able to move through public spaces without fear of violence. CGE spokesperson Javu Baloyi emphasized that women should be able to engage in ordinary activities without fear for their lives.
The Commission highlighted the urgent need for affected locations in Kempton Park to undergo a safety audit, involving the South African Police Service (SAPS), the municipality, transport authorities, and community safety structures. This audit would assess risks to women and other members of the public, focusing on factors such as street lighting, surveillance, pedestrian routes, and police visibility.
The CGE also called on Kempton Park residents to cooperate with police investigations and provide any information that could assist in identifying those responsible for the killings. They extended condolences to the families of the deceased women and urged authorities to strengthen preventative measures alongside investigation efforts.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Development has condemned the acts of violence against women, labeling them as reprehensible. The department stressed that gender-based violence demands a societal response and called for collective action from the government, civil society, and communities.
Social Development Minister Dina Pule and Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, are set to visit Moselakgomo's residence to provide psychosocial support to the bereaved families. The department confirmed its active participation in the Rapid Response Team, which coordinates the government's urgent response to the murders. This team includes SAPS, the City of Ekurhuleni, and the Community Safety Department, focusing on a swift, coordinated, and victim-centered response.
