EFF Accuses SAPS of Failing Women After 5 Bodies Found in Kempton Park
- The EFF issued a statement on 14 September condemning the government and police over the discovery of five women's bodies in the Kempton Park area over two months
- The party questioned why a coordinated law enforcement response only appeared to gain momentum after public concern grew over a missing local runner
- The EFF called for a full investigation into the deaths and demanded police account for their handling of each case
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SOUTH AFRICA — The Economic Freedom Fighters have called out the South African government and the South African Police Service for what the party describes as a systemic failure to protect women.
This follows the recovery of five women's bodies in the Kempton Park area of Ekurhuleni over the past two months.
EFF questions delayed police response
In a statement released on Monday, 14 September, the EFF said the deaths exposed deep failings in the state's commitment to upholding women's rights to life, dignity and safety.
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Central to the EFF's criticism is the question of why law enforcement appeared to intensify its response only after public alarm grew around the disappearance of Kempton Park runner Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, who was subsequently identified as the fourth victim found in the area.
The party argued that the repeated discovery of bodies in the same location should have triggered an immediate and coordinated investigation, and challenged police to explain whether they had assessed possible connections between the cases before public pressure mounted.
The EFF also questioned whether the SAPS had done enough to identify patterns of violence against women in the area and whether earlier intervention could have prevented further deaths.
Government criticised over GBV commitments
Beyond the immediate police response, the EFF directed criticism at President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration over its broader handling of gender-based violence and femicide. The party accused the government of failing to adequately fund and implement reforms committed to under the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.
The EFF called for a comprehensive review of missing-person cases previously reported in the Kempton Park area and demanded that the local police station provide a full account of when officers first became aware of each body and what investigative steps followed.
The party also challenged what it described as a culture of treating missing women as routine matters until families mobilise sufficient public attention, and rejected any form of victim-blaming, arguing that the responsibility for preventing violence lies with the state and perpetrators, not with women themselves.
The EFF said authorities must provide concrete answers and take decisive action to improve women's safety in Kempton Park and across the country.
KZN Premier weighs in on killings
Briefly News also reported that KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has weighed in on the murder of Elizabeth "Tsontso" Moselakgomo, extending his condolences to the family. In his statement, Premier Ntuli extended condolences to Moselakgomo's family and challenged South Africans not to grow numb to such deaths. He described her as "a runner, a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend" with "a name, a family, dreams, a life and a future.
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Source: Briefly News
