Kwa-Thema Men March Against GBVF After Nine Women Found Dead in Ekurhuleni in Nine Weeks

• Men's organisations, sports clubs, and civic groups united for a march in Kwa-Thema on 25 September 2026
• The march, themed 'Men Leading a United Stand Against GBV and Femicide,' ran from Kwa-Thema SAPS to the local TVET College
• The community mobilised following the discovery of nine women's bodies dumped across Ekurhuleni over nine weeks

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 — Residents, men's organisations, political leaders, sports clubs, and civic groups took to the streets of Kwa-Thema on 25 September 2026 for the Orange Day Solidarity Walk.

The walk was a community-led march against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF). The march was organised under the theme "Men Leading a United Stand Against GBV and Femicide".

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It called on men and boys to take a visible and active role in protecting women and children. The City of Ekurhuleni shared photos from the event on its official X account, stating: "Silence is not an option."

The demonstration follows a deeply troubling series of deaths in the area. Nine women's bodies were discovered dumped across Ekurhuleni over a period of nine weeks, prompting community leaders to organise a decisive public response.

All the women were either partially dressed or fully naked when their bodies were found, and some had been sexually assaulted. The discoveries have also reignited national concern over the persistent crisis of violence against women in South Africa.

Community sends clear message on GBVF

Participants marched from the Kwa-Thema South African Police Service station to the local TVET College, carrying banners that read "No Respect for Abusers," "Real Men Protect Women and Children," and "Stop the Abuse."

The event drew participants from across sectors of society, with men's groups at the forefront of a march that sought to reframe the conversation around GBVF — placing responsibility on men to lead change rather than stand aside.

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Organisers stated that the Kwa-Thema community was sending a clear message: men must drive the shift in attitude and behaviour, communities must act collectively, and gender-based violence and femicide must end.

An in-depth look at the Ekurhuleni murders

Briefly News took a closer look at the recent murders in Ekurhuleni, where nine women's bodies were found in nine weeks.

The discoveries sparked outrage in the country and left police with a mammoth task of trying to find those responsible

This in-depth article looks at who the victims were, when their bodies were discovered, and how police have responded to the murders.

Source: Briefly News