South Africa: Ramaphosa Calls on Men to Fight GBV - South African News Briefs - August 10, 2026

President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged men and boys to actively combat gender-based violence, asserting that they must reject violence against women and girls. Addressing the Women’s Day commemoration at the Union Buildings, the President also emphasized the importance of more women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Tragically, recent events in Cape Town have highlighted the severity of this issue. In three separate mass shootings, a total of eleven individuals lost their lives. Three men were killed in Khayelitsha, while five people were taken from the world in Langa. Tragically, three others perished in a shooting at the Barcelona informal settlement in Gugulethu, with two more sustaining injuries.

Despite police reinforcements in the affected communities, no arrests have been made, and the motives behind these heinous acts remain under investigation.

Additionally, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema faces criminal prosecution for crimen injuria. Allegedly, Malema referred former Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse as a rapist, particularly concerning a seven-year-old girl known as Cwecwe. This incident occurred in October 2024 at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape.

Initially, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute anyone due to insufficient evidence. However, after a complaint from AfriForum’s private prosecution unit, Malema will now face justice in the Johannesburg Magistrates Court.