“Where’s the Sense of Urgency?”: Survivor Alison Botha Breaks Silence on SA’s GBV Crisis

• Alison Botha, who survived a brutal attack in 1994, returned to social media to address South Africa's GBV crisis
• Her video came after the bodies of nine women were discovered in Kempton Park and the broader Ekurhuleni area
• Botha compared the government's response to GBV to its handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, demanding urgent action

Alison Botha, one of South Africa's most recognised gender-based violence survivors, has broken her social media silence to speak directly to women across the country following the murders of nine women in Kempton Park.

In a selfie-style video posted to her Instagram page, Botha addressed the escalating crisis with urgency and emotion.

"Here we are, over 30 years later, and the gender-based violence crisis in our country is no better. In fact, it's worse," she said.

Nine women found dead in Ekurhuleni

Since July 2026, nine women's bodies have been discovered across Kempton Park and surrounding areas, including Olifantsfontein, Clayville, Dawn Park and KwaThema. Most victims were found sexually assaulted and dumped near highways, rivers or secluded fields. Among those identified were Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, a 38-year-old runner who vanished during her morning jog, and 32-year-old Itumeleng Kekana. The South African Police Service deployed a multidisciplinary task team and offered a R400,000 reward for information, while President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned the killings as a national priority.

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Botha's powerful COVID comparison

In 1994, Botha was abducted, sexually assaulted, stabbed more than 35 times and left for dead outside Port Elizabeth. She survived, went public with her story, authored the book I Have Life, and spent decades speaking globally about GBV. Her message now carries the weight of that history.

In her video, she drew a sharp contrast between the government's Covid-19 response and its approach to GBV.

"Do you remember, at the time of Covid, the sense of urgency that the government took, the restrictions that were placed on us for our own protection? And yet the chance of dying if you contracted COVID was, I think, 1.8%. And we women are now living in a country where our chance of dying from gender-based violence is over 40%. Where's the sense of urgency? Where's the action?"

She also pushed back on safety advisories telling women not to walk or run alone.

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"These sorts of restrictions are not keeping the women of South Africa safe. This is a temporary fix to an ongoing societal problem, and there needs to be change."

Watch her full message below:

Mzansi sands with Alison

South Africans responded with deep emotion in the comments section on Alison's Instagram post:

@cheflaurakelly wrote:

"Thank you. I think of you often. I met you many years ago. Also a survivor of rape and violence. You didn't know. But you supported me without knowing it. Well said. It's exhausting and terrifying."

@sammismells said:

"Read her story. It's so unbelievable that Alison is breathing."

@pomegranatesmash shared:

"We are tired. It's enough. It is done."

@scheckterjanice added:

"Alison, you are such an incredible inspiration. Thank you for speaking out on this terrible scourge."

@nicollablyth called her a "Warrior lady so full of courage. Absolute respect."

@marcia.rudd wrote:

"I salute you, Alison. Women need to unite and stand together and make the changes they deserve and demand."

@wendyday556 said:

"In South Africa but also the entire world."

More on the Kempton Park and Ekurhuleni murders

Read also

Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga tells SA men to stop murdering women, citizens push back online

• Briefly News recently reported on a powerful march by men from Ekurhuleni who said they'd had enough of gender-based violence in their community.
• A Kempton Park woman broke down describing how her friend's rape case was allegedly ignored by local police.
• A forensic pathologist honoured GBV victims at his own graduation with a deliberate and meaningful tribute.

Source: Briefly News