South Africa to clean up high-risk areas after 12 women killed

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a national emergency response to high-risk areas across the country following the discovery of 12 women's bodies in an area east of Johannesburg over a two-month period. The deaths have sparked widespread outrage over the extent of gender-based violence in South Africa, which has one of the highest rates of such violence globally.

Ramaphosa confirmed that there have been four arrests in connection with the murders, which he called "unacceptable" and admitted that the country has "not done enough" to protect women and girls. He emphasized that gender-based violence "cannot be accepted as a normal part of life in South Africa."

In response to the escalating violence, Ramaphosa announced a multidisciplinary, national-level emergency response. This includes a "women's safety audit" for every municipality, aimed at identifying and addressing high-risk areas, such as broken streetlights, overgrown public spaces, abandoned buildings, unsafe transport routes, poorly secured parks, and other conditions that place women at risk.

The president also unveiled an "enforcement package" to address alcohol-related violence, emphasizing that alcohol does not cause gender-based violence but is a significant aggravating factor. Ramaphosa called for deeper societal change, stating that the root of the problem lies in attitudes that regard women as inferior and that men must take the lead in ending gender-based violence.

He urged men and boys to challenge harmful beliefs and behaviors that perpetuate violence against women.