The recent discovery of nine women’s bodies in South Africa’s east Johannesburg region has intensified concerns over the country’s ongoing femicide crisis. The most recent victim, Ms Moselakgomo, was found after being missing for five days, with her body discovered half-naked and bruised in a local park. Authorities have yet to determine whether these killings are connected or linked to a potential serial offender.

Tebello Mosikili, deputy police chief, expressed frustration at the mounting toll, stating at the scene that the rising number of bodies being found is unacceptable. The initial discovery was made in July when a woman’s body was found naked and bound with cable ties, followed by two other similar cases that initially attracted little public attention. However, these incidents have now drawn sharp criticism from advocacy groups and the broader public over what many view as insufficient government action.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa formally declared gender-based violence and femicide a national disaster in November 2025, following campaigns by organisations such as Women For Change. Despite this designation, official data from the South African Police Service (SAPS) shows that between March 2023 and March 2024, at least 5,578 women were murdered nationwide, with no updated figures disclosed since then. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that South Africa’s female homicide rate stood at 12.2 per 100,000 women in 2022—nearly six times the global average of 2.2 per 100,000.

In response to the recent killings, police advised women not to walk or run alone, a recommendation that sparked public backlash for appearing to place the responsibility on potential victims. President Ramaphosa reassured the nation that the government is committed to thorough investigations, vowing that “no stone would be left unturned” in seeking justice.

Activists report a surge in demand for support services. Merlize Jogiat, operations and advocacy manager at Women For Change, said her organisation handled 3,000 support requests in just three days recently. Since April 2026, their Survivor Support Line has received more than 40,000 messages concerning domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and femicide-related grief. Jogiat highlighted widespread sexual violence, noting that nearly every woman she knows has experienced some form of harassment or abuse.

Locally, many women report living in fear, resorting to group travel or learning to use firearms for self-protection. One woman working in the area described an atmosphere of pervasive anxiety, saying it has become unsafe even to visit shops alone. Another woman shared a photo of herself enrolling in a gun safety course while encouraging others to do the same.

Amid this climate, South Africa’s gender commissioner described women as being “hunted.” Officials acknowledge that while policies exist to combat gender-based violence, these efforts remain underfunded. Sindisiwe Chikunga, minister for women, youth and persons with disabilities, stated that government initiatives suffer from severe resource constraints. This shortfall is evident in the country’s forensic processing backlog, with only 3.5 percent of DNA samples analyzed within the required 30-day period. More than 175,000 samples remain untested, according to civil society group Action Society.

Experts also point to deeply rooted social and historical factors. Jogiat cited persistent cultural norms and legacies of apartheid as contributing to patterns of male dominance and violence against women. “Men seek to exert control in response to the brokenness left by apartheid,” she said.

The ongoing crisis continues to take a psychological toll on survivors and activists alike. Jogiat expressed personal fear for both herself and her teenage daughter, underscoring the ever-present danger faced by women across South Africa. “We’re terrified all of the time,” she said. “As South African women, we have gotten accustomed to our safety always being in jeopardy.”