South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on men to take greater responsibility in addressing gender-based violence as he announced a series of government measures aimed at curbing attacks on women across the country. The appeal comes amid widespread public anger following a recent string of murders that have heightened concerns over the safety of women.

In a televised address on Tuesday night, Ramaphosa acknowledged that existing efforts had fallen short in protecting women and pledged a renewed focus on justice and prevention. He instructed police to review unsolved cases involving murders, attempted murders, and serious sexual offenses against women and children. Authorities are also tasked with developing a funded plan within 60 days to reduce forensic backlogs in such cases.

Local governments have been given a five-month deadline to improve physical conditions that undermine women's safety, such as repairing broken streetlights, clearing overgrown spaces, and securing abandoned buildings. Additionally, Ramaphosa assigned five ministers to present a strategy within 60 days to tackle violence intensified by harmful alcohol consumption. While stating that alcohol does not cause gender-based violence, he emphasized its role as an aggravating factor that must be addressed within broader prevention efforts.

The president’s remarks follow a wave of at least 11 women’s bodies discovered since mid-July in Ekurhuleni, a municipality east of Johannesburg. Eight of these bodies were found in the past three weeks, including Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who disappeared after going for a run in early September. Authorities have arrested suspects linked to three of the killings and are continuing investigations into the others. Ramaphosa said police had found no evidence suggesting a single serial killer was responsible but maintained that all possibilities remained under consideration.

Highlighting the burden historically placed on women to avoid violence, Ramaphosa urged men to actively challenge those who harass or abuse women, declaring, “It is time for good men to stop being silent men.” He noted that women have long carried the responsibility for safety—altering travel routes, avoiding nighttime outings, and warning one another about threats—calling for a shift in this dynamic.

While the president’s announcements were welcomed as steps toward action, activists expressed skepticism about their potential impact. Shenilla Mohamed, executive director of Amnesty International South Africa, warned that these issues have persisted despite years of public outcry and protests, particularly since the 2019 national demonstrations against gender-based violence. She stressed the importance of translating timelines into concrete results with accountability for failures.

Mpigwa Mangwiro-Tsanga and Bafana Khumalo from the nongovernmental organization Sonke Gender Justice echoed concerns that the government's response predominantly focuses on reactions after violence occurs rather than comprehensive prevention. They noted that while addressing unresolved cases and unsafe public environments is necessary, these measures alone do not constitute a full prevention strategy. They also criticized the call for municipalities to enforce responsibilities that fall squarely within their mandates, yet have historically been neglected.

As South Africa grapples with rising fears over violence against women, the government’s outlined approach signals renewed commitment, though civil society continues to push for sustained, systemic changes to break the cycle of gender-based violence.