Ramaphosa calls violence against women a ‘national shame’ after 11 bodies found in Ekurhuleni

Johannesburg, South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa called violence against women a “national shame” after another woman’s body was found dumped over the weekend. Eleven women’s bodies have been found since July in Ekurhuleni, a municipality east of Johannesburg.

Deaths renew public anger

The victims were mostly in their 20s or 30s. Some were found stripped and showed signs of sexual violence. The discoveries have renewed public anger and fear after repeated government pledges failed to curb gender-based violence.

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In a televised address late on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said some women’s bodies remained in government mortuaries, waiting to be identified and claimed by their families. “The nation is angry. The women of South Africa are angry,” he said.

Investigations continue

Ramaphosa said police had found no evidence that a serial killer was behind the 11 deaths, but were investigating all possibilities. Arrests had been made in connection with three of the killings, he said, adding that investigations into all the deaths would not be allowed to go cold.

South Africa has one of the world’s highest per-capita murder rates. Policing is weakened by corruption and a lack of resources, and only about one in 10 murders is solved.