Photo chronicle of protests in South Africa against gender-based violence over seven years

An awareness campaign on gender-based violence (GBV) took place in Durban, focusing on raising public attention and establishing cooperation between private security companies and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to distribute safety and awareness materials.

Men and women from South Africa, dressed in black, took to the streets on Friday, waving placards, whistling, and remaining silent to highlight the issues of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), as well as to express solidarity with families who have lost loved ones in Gauteng.

The country has been confronted with news that nine dead women were found in Ekurhuleni since July, and the police are investigating whether these murders are connected. The acting Minister of Police, Firoz Kachalia, stated that the police will close Compton Park and surrounding areas, adding that it is too early to confirm a pattern of these murders.

Participants in yesterday's campaign responded to the social media post "South Africa Wear Black" in solidarity with the women whose lives were taken, their families, and all those affected by violence against women. The local NGO South African Fight Back declared its solidarity with women and girls whose lives were cut short by GBV-related crimes.

This NGO noted: "Black is a symbol of mourning. A reminder of lost lives. A reminder of families left behind. And a reminder that we cannot become numb to another headline, another victim, another family forced to grieve."

Communities Dress in Black

In Durban, activists gathered near the N2 highway in Parlok to be heard. Rachel Pillay from Jugs Meals on Wheels and a community activist called GBV the most serious problem facing communities. She emphasized that victims of GBV include both men and women. Pillay called on every community to unite and protect each other.

Pillay stated: "No one has the right to take another person's life. We must stand up and say 'no' to all killings. We must teach our children to live better lives in harmony among all races, religions, and genders. Our children are the future of tomorrow. My parents taught us to be kind, support everyone, and never judge."

Calls for Strengthening the Justice System

Lawrence Palmer, chairman of the Newlands East Residents and Taxpayers Association, blamed the weak judicial system for the deaths of women and children. He noted that criminals know the system does not work. According to him, courts are overloaded daily, and GBV cases take years to reach trial.

Palmer stated: "Criminals are having a party. The justice system consists of three parts that do not work together: SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority, and the courts. The police are understaffed, poorly trained, and have a backlog of cases awaiting investigation. The country is suffering from brain drain, and experienced prosecutors have left, leading to case accumulation."

The awareness campaign on gender-based violence (GBV) took place in Durban, emphasizing community visibility and partnership between private security companies and the South African Police Service (SAPS) for distributing safety resources and promoting awareness.

Tanya Kershaw, representing the Newlands Rapid Response Team, expressed disappointment over the lack of profile of the person responsible for the murders in Compton Park. She said: "After the death of four women, the country realized what had happened. We thank God for the little girl who stood out from the crowd and made her voice heard. It's not just about running women; what about those who go to work so early, like at 4 am? How safe are you in your community?"

Julia Wood from Lakehaven Secondary School in Durban noted that youth should learn that strength lies in respect, compassion, and upholding the truth, not in violence.

Runners from KwaZulu-Natal also took to the streets on Wednesday in memory of the murdered runner Elizabeth "Tsonzo" Moselakgomo and other runners. The 5-kilometer run started at 5 am from Florida Road, participants were dressed in black in solidarity with Moselakgomo and GBVF victims.

A 38-year-old woman went missing last week after a run. Her family positively identified her body at Hermiston morgues on Monday. They described her as a very dear friend and running mate, whose sudden death left her beloved child and other relatives in deep mourning.

GBVF Council Begins Work Amid Gloomy Backdrop

The recently established National Council on GBVF in South Africa held its first meeting on August 31. The council's priorities are developing a shareholder agreement, creating a cost structure for the country's response to gender-based violence, and strengthening oversight of the national strategy.

The Minister in the President for Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities, Sindisive Chikunga, stated that the council begins its work against a difficult backdrop, referencing the first South African National Survey on the Prevalence of Gender-Based Violence conducted by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, published in November 2024.

The study showed that approximately 7.3 million women aged 18 and older had experienced physical violence in their lifetime, while over 2.15 million experienced sexual violence. It was also found that about 3.2 million women were subjected to physical violence by a partner, and approximately 2.5 million men reported experiencing physical violence from a partner.

According to the police, in the 2025/26 financial year, SAPS registered 50,511 cases of GBVF, of which 30,736 led to arrests and/or referral to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Police Statistics

SAPS metrics classify GBVF cases under offenses such as murder, attempted murder, rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, common assault, attempted rape, and sexual contact. Rape accounted for 36,217 out of 50,511 registered cases.

Chikunga noted that the council's duties include monitoring the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on GBVF, advising the government on policy and legislative reforms, promoting accountability, commissioning research, tracking progress toward national goals, and mobilizing resources. Its mandate also includes strengthening prevention programs and supporting survivor-focused interventions.

Shelters and Aid Centers

This week, the sixth National Shelter Indaba was held in Gauteng. The summit emphasized the importance of strengthening national and global efforts to prevent GBV and femicide. The Minister of Social Development, Dina Pule, praised shelter managers, social workers, counselors, and support staff.

She stated: "One of three women aged 16 and older experiences physical violence. Three women are killed by partners every day. Only between July and September 2025 did more than 2000 survivors seek help at Tutuzela Help Centers. Approximately 65% of all registered GBV survivors in some provinces are children."

This publication is a collection of names of women who have become victims of the femicide crisis in South Africa, highlighting their individuality.

Among those mentioned is Nontokozwe Mazibuko, aged 25, who lived in Portgie, south of Johannesburg. She went missing on December 30th, and together with her friend Andiswa Sontangane, also 25 years old and a resident of Portgie, they were found discarded near the R28 highway.

Anneke 'Niki' van Heerden, 54, from Plettenberg Bay, was discovered with multiple injuries near a car after people heard the woman scream. She previously worked as a detective in Plettenberg Bay.

Nolumanyano Nonyamaeko Matanzima, 64, a first-grade teacher from Ntabankulu in the Eastern Cape, was shot during an attack at Ntabankulu primary school, despite being due to retire in June.

The list also features a woman whose name has not been disclosed; she is 34 years old and resided in Parsonsville, Gqeberha. She was shot at home; her name was withheld to protect her children.

Itumeleng Kekana, 32, from Pomona in Kenton Park, was found partially undressed near a river along the R21 highway 17 days after going missing. She left behind a 14-year-old daughter.

Elizabeth 'Contso' Moselakgomo, 38, a mother and runner from Rodsfield in Kenton Park, was found outside a hotel near the R21 highway some time after she went for a run.

Another woman, whose name has not been revealed, was found at a dumping site with her hands tied and burns on her body in Copswille, Pietermaritzburg. Her identity has not been established.

Is anyone missing from this wall?

The publication calls on readers to report women killed in South Africa this year. IOL verifies each name against police statements, court records, or published reports before adding it to the list. Information sent to xolile.mtembu@iol.co.za is used solely for verification purposes, and the sender's personal details are not published. This list is compiled based on information from SAPS statements, court records, and various media reports, but it is not a complete registry.

In South Africa, students and staff from DUT marched silently through Durban to honor the memory of victims of gender-based violence and femicide, and to call for an end to violence, fear, and silence.

In the eThekwini area, the body of a sixth woman was found in approximately two months. Police are investigating possible links between these cases but warn that it is too early to speak of a serial killer's guilt.

Nevertheless, this should not distract from the broader crisis. South Africa does not lack reports of GBVF; it lacks consequences, protection, and urgency.

The case of 38-year-old Elizabeth 'Ntontso' Moselakgomo intensified public anger. Moselakgomo, a mother, went missing after going for a run. Her family later identified her body at the Germiston morgue. The police deployed specialized resources to investigate her death alongside other murders.

The circumstances of the deaths are still being determined, and it would be irresponsible to claim that the women were killed by the same person before investigators establish that. However, six bodies in a concentrated geographical area demand an exceptional response.

Police have already involved multidisciplinary investigators and forensic specialists. One suspect is in custody in connection with the first body found in July. Investigators are now working to identify connections between these cases. Therefore, the public needs more than just assurances that investigations are underway; it needs results.

Because for the women living in eThekwini, the question is not whether the authorities will eventually explain what happened, but whether the state can prevent the next woman from becoming another case.

Murders in eThekwini occur against the backdrop of a national crisis. SAPS registered the murder of 569 women between April and June 2026, as well as 9201 rape cases. Over 60% of the rape cases sampled occurred in residential premises, challenging the notion that violence against women is a danger lurking somewhere outside the home.

The scale of this is precisely what led the government to classify GBVF as a national catastrophe in November 2025. This classification was intended to allow the government to coordinate its response, direct resources to the crisis, and strengthen accountability. The government also established a National GBVF Council to coordinate the national response.

However, almost a year after the declaration of the catastrophe, frontline organizations continue to report serious resource issues. The South African National Shelter Movement states that about 90% of shelters supported by them are struggling with funding and other forms of support. These facilities may be necessary for women trying to escape abusive homes, receive counseling, legal aid, or protect their children.

This reveals a fundamental contradiction. If GBVF is a national catastrophe, the infrastructure protecting its victims cannot be treated as a secondary issue.

South Africa is not alone in the fight against femicide. In Cameroon, reports indicate that over 120 women have been killed by intimate partners since the beginning of the year. In response, the government launched a three-month national campaign targeting femicide, domestic violence, gender inequality, and male dominance, focusing on prevention, reporting crimes, and prosecution.

Cameroon's campaign itself does not solve the problem. Campaigns only make sense when backed by functioning institutions. But the comparison raises an important question for South Africa: what does emergency action look like when a crisis has already been officially recognized?

It should mean swift police investigations. It should mean adequately funded shelters. It should mean prosecutors effectively handling cases. It should mean the enforcement of protection orders. It should mean early intervention when patterns of abuse emerge. And it should mean confronting the attitudes among men who normalize control, the right to dominate, and violence against women.

The most dangerous response right now will be another cycle of outrage followed by another declaration. The state has already acknowledged the problem. President Cyril Ramaphosa declared GBVF a national catastrophe, and the government established a status National Council and promised increased policing, survivor support, and prevention programs.

The question is no longer whether the government understands the crisis. The question is whether the system delivers results. This means publishing measurable targets for investigations, prosecutions, convictions, protection orders, shelter capacity, and police responsiveness. It means identifying where resources are lacking and addressing those gaps instead of creating another layer of bureaucracy. And it means that men must become part of the solution, not just receive instructions to condemn violence after another woman dies.

The women found in eThekwini cannot be reduced to statistics. Nor can the 569 murdered women in three months be reduced to statistics. South Africa has already named GBVF a national catastrophe. Now the state must act as if it believes its own declaration.