By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Caption: The silent protest under UCT’s #JustNo campaign against gender-based violence. Image: UCT.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will this evening at 19:00, Tuesday, 29 September 2026, address the nation on the steps being taken by government to confront Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).
The announcement was made by Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday.
The address comes after a recent spate of murders involving women in Ekurhuleni, prompting Cabinet to condemn the violence and appeal to communities to report domestic abuse and other forms of violence.
Ntshavheni said government has been monitoring issues surrounding gender-based violence for more than four months. This includes examining who is committing sexual offences, with particular concern around the involvement of young people in sex-related crimes.
But government says the responsibility for preventing GBV cannot rest with the police alone.
Research indicates that women are often at greater risk of violence from people they know, placing renewed attention on what happens behind closed doors and within families.
Ntshavheni said Cabinet had condemned the killings and welcomed the arrests made in connection with some of the incidents.
We have joined the nation in condemning and mourning the brutal murders of the nine women in various parts of Ekurhuleni Metro.”
Cabinet welcomes the arrest of four suspects in connection with three of the murders.”
The four suspects remain in custody after they were denied bail following their court appearances on three separate occasions.”
Ntshavheni urged families, neighbours and communities to take a more active role in identifying and reporting abuse. For women experiencing violence at home, that silence can make an already dangerous situation even more difficult.