Ramaphosa Addresses Fear Over 9 Female Bodies Found in Ekurhuleni at ANC Rally

• President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged widespread fear among women following the discovery of nine female bodies in Ekurhuleni
• The ANC president was addressing supporters in Hammarsdale days after a mass shooting in KwaMakhutha killed 11 people
• Ramaphosa urged communities to work with police through structures like community policing forums to help reduce crime

KWAZULU-NATAL — President Cyril Ramaphosa confronted South Africa's deepening gender-based violence crisis head-on at an ANC election campaign event in Hammarsdale, west of Durban, expressing empathy for women living in fear following the discovery of nine female bodies in Ekurhuleni.

According to SABC News, the address on 25 September 2026 came days after a mass shooting in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban, claimed 11 lives on Tuesday night. A twelfth victim died in hospital on Friday morning, compounding what has been a week of acute national anxiety over violent crime.

Ramaphosa on gender-based violence

Read also

President Cyril Ramaphosa to address nation on Ekurhuleni murders, South Africans demands action

Speaking to supporters in Hammarsdale in a video the African National Congress posted on its X account, Ramaphosa acknowledged that gender-based violence and femicide remain widespread, noting that the Ekurhuleni had sparked fear across the country. He expressed sympathy for women feeling unsafe and said government programmes are being developed to rebuild confidence and restore security in affected communities.

The president stressed that these initiatives are aimed specifically at the communities most exposed to targeted violence against women, and that meaningful progress would require coordinated effort between government and citizens.

Community cooperation key to tackling crime

Turning to the broader crime situation, Ramaphosa maintained that law enforcement agencies are actively engaged in efforts to prevent large-scale attacks and address persistent local criminality. He called on residents to support police operations by participating in community policing forums, describing these structures as essential to bringing crime down in high-risk areas.

The visit to Hammarsdale formed part of ANC campaigning in the region, but the gravity of recent events gave the gathering a sombre tone, with the president choosing to lead on public safety rather than party politics.

View the video on X here:

Ramaphosa to address nation over Ekurhuleni deaths

In a related article, Briefly News reported on Ramaphosa’s planned address on the government’s response to gender-based violence and the Ekurhuleni women’s murders. The president is expected to provide an update on the investigations and measures to address the crisis.

Source: Briefly News