Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga Tells SA Men to Stop Murdering Women, Citizens Push Back Online
- Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga addressed South African men directly at a government memorial in Ekurhuleni
- The memorial was held to mourn nine women killed in a wave of gender-based violence within the space of two months
- Chikunga's remarks prompted fierce pushback online, with many South Africans rejecting her framing of the crisis
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Source: Twitter
Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
GAUTENG — Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisiwe Chikunga, delivered a pointed address to South African men at a government-led memorial in Ekurhuleni on 17 September 2026.
The memorial was convened by the City of Ekurhuleni, Government Communications, and the Presidency in response to the discovery of nine women's bodies dumped across the city over a period of approximately two months.
Five of the bodies were found in Kempton Park, two in Olifantsfontein, one in Kwa-Thema, and one in Dawn Park. Five of the nine victims have since been identified.
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Chikunga's message to SA men
Speaking at the auditorium event, Chikunga called on men to end all forms of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). She went beyond condemning murder and rape, drawing attention to subtler forms of abuse she said were equally unacceptable.
"To the men of South Africa, I speak directly and unequivocally to you. Please stop it. Stop murdering women. Stop raping women. Stop insulting women. Stop financially abusing women.
"Insulting your wife and calling them names is still gender-based violence. It doesn't matter that you do it in your house behind closed doors," she said.
She also addressed financial abuse, stating that husbands who demand their wives' salaries at the end of each month are engaging in a form of gender-based violence.
Chikunga argued that verbal abuse frequently escalates.
"They start with insults. They proceed to assault and then to murder. It cannot be," she said, adding: "We are not property. We are human beings."
South Africans push back online
The minister's remarks drew significant criticism on social media, with many users rejecting her framing of the crisis as one driven by South African men.
@africanscribe wrote:
"The citizens of South Africa do not want a Minister of Women. We want more patrol cars and police officers patrolling our communities. We want boys to be taught to respect girls and we want killers, who will never be rehabilitated after a lifetime in prison, sentenced to death."
@Squirrel1980021 argued:
"These morons are deflecting the real issue here, which is illegal immigration."
@owenngobese wrote:
"She must tell Nigerian drug lords and Somali mafia to stop it."
@Anderson_Leejhb responded:
"Tsek. You must tell your fellows to stop corruption!"
@Kgakgamats55653 said:
"A country that worships criminals will always be a playground for criminals."
@MafambaT wrote:
"We are led by fools straight."
Criminologist weighs in on possibility of a serial killer
Briefly News reported that criminologist Professor Nirmala Gopal weighed in on the murders in Kempton Park.
Professor Gopal said that the pattern of killings involving the women was consistent with the work of a single perpetrator.
The police have urged caution against drawing premature conclusions, as the community has been gripped by fear.
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Source: Briefly News
