Category: Africa

The National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NCGBVF) has appealed to families with missing loved ones in Gauteng to come forward and assist with the DNA identification of unidentified women whose bodies have been found in the province.

“The Council appeals to any family with a missing loved one in Gauteng to come forward to the SAPS [South African Police Service] and to the Gauteng Department of Health so that DNA identification can proceed,” it said in a statement.

The appeal follows the discovery of the bodies of eight women in Ekurhuleni since July 2026, with several of them reportedly showing signs of sexual violence.

The Council expressed concern over the killings and extended its condolences to the families of the victims, including the family of Elizabeth “Tsontso” Moselakgomo, who went for a run and did not return home.

“Each of these women was somebody’s daughter, mother, sister or friend. They were not statistics, and they will not be treated as such,” the Council said.

It said that “no woman should be buried unnamed.”

The SAPS has reiterated that there is no waiting period for reporting a missing person and that cases should be reported immediately at the nearest police station.

The Council also called for thorough investigations, timely forensic processes and adequately resourced prosecutions in the cases.

It acknowledged the multidisciplinary investigative team deployed by the SAPS, as well as an arrest already made in one of the cases but stressed that arrests must be followed by comprehensive investigations and prosecutions.

The Council said it will seek a formal briefing from the SAPS and relevant provincial and municipal authorities on the Ekurhuleni cases, as well as on safety measures being implemented for women in affected communities.

As the statutory body responsible for providing strategic leadership and coordination in the national response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), the NCGBVF said it will hold institutions accountable for implementing the National Strategic Plan on GBVF.

Under Pillar 1 of the plan, the Council will seek accountability from national, provincial and municipal institutions for measures taken to protect women in Ekurhuleni.

It said Pillar 2 must address prevention, including the social norms and behaviours that contribute to violence against women, while Pillar 3 must ensure that women are able to walk, work, exercise and travel without fear, and that perpetrators face consequences.

Pillar 4, which focuses on response, care, support and healing, must ensure that affected families receive dignified psychosocial support, including during the identification of loved ones, burials and court proceedings.

“Pillars 5 and 6 remain central: economic dependence traps women in danger, and reliable data is what allows us to see patterns before more women die,” the Council said.

The Council also urged the public and media to refrain from circulating unverified information, images or accusations relating to the cases, warning that speculation could compromise investigations and further distress affected families.

“Our anger must not compromise the investigation or wound the families further.”

South Africa’s National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is established under the National Council on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide Act, 2024 (Act 9 of 2024), and is mandated to provide strategic leadership and coordinate a multi-sectoral response to GBVF.

The Council said the recent killings underscored the need for the country’s GBVF framework to translate into concrete prevention, protection, support and justice for women and communities.

“There can be no normalisation of the killing of women. There must be accountability. There must be prevention. There must be justice,” the Council said. – SAnews.gov.za

The sixth National Shelter Indaba has called for a strengthened national and global effort to curb gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), with stakeholders stressing the need for greater collaboration and collective action to address the scourge.

The three-day engagement, hosted by the Department of Social Development in partnership with the National Shelter Movement of South Africa (NSMSA), brings together government officials, shelter representatives and other stakeholders involved in providing services to women and children affected by violence.

Since its inception in 2021, the National Shelter Indaba has provided a platform for officials, practitioners and other role players to share knowledge, experiences and lessons aimed at strengthening the response to GBVF.

It also provides stakeholders with an opportunity to identify gaps and challenges affecting the delivery of services to abused women and their children, while developing strategies to improve support and protection.

READ | Shelter indaba places GBVF response under spotlight

Reflecting on developments since GBVF was classified as a national disaster, Social Development Director responsible for the Victim Empowerment Programme, Sibusiso Malope, said South Africa continues to face a high prevalence of GBVF.

“The country is globally among the top five countries with a high rate of GBVF incidents. Following the classification of GBVF as a national disaster, NATJOINTS [National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure] was established, involving various departments, including Social Development; Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities; Justice; the South African Police Service; and the Presidency,” Malope said.

He said NATJOINTS has established several workstreams to strengthen the national response, covering prevention and social cohesion, enforcement, care and support, the legal and regulatory framework, statistics and systems, accountability, funding and costing, communication and partnerships, as well as monitoring.

“These workstreams are intended to assess whether all commitments are being actioned,” Malope said.

Tolerance and social cohesion were among the issues discussed on the first day of the Indaba, with government and shelter representatives highlighting their importance in addressing the social conditions that contribute to violence and inequality.

The discussions emphasised the need for South Africans to play an active role in preventing GBVF in homes, places of worship, communities and workplaces.

This includes challenging cultures, norms and practices that perpetuate gender inequality and violence against vulnerable groups, including women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities.

The Department of Social Development leads Pillar 4 of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP-GBVF), which focuses on response, care, support and healing.

The pillar is implemented in collaboration with other government departments, civil society organisations and stakeholder partners to ensure a coordinated response to survivors and victims of GBVF.

The annual National Shelter Indaba provides a platform for stakeholders to examine challenges confronting the shelter sector, exchange best practices and strengthen partnerships aimed at improving services to victims and survivors.

The engagement also promotes dialogue and collaborative approaches to addressing gaps in the national GBVF response, particularly in relation to care, support and healing.

Members of the public are encouraged to prevent and report incidents of GBV by contacting the Gender-Based Violence Command Centre (GBVCC) on 0800 428 428.

The GBVCC can also be reached by sending a “PLEASE CALL ME” to *120*7867#, sending an SMS with the word “HELP” to 31531, or via Skype at Helpme GBV, where professional social workers are available to provide assistance. – SAnews.gov.za

By Sandile Nene

South Africa is known as the Rainbow Nation because it is home to people from diverse cultures, races and religions. We pride ourselves for having united people with deep political differences to build an inclusive society that works for everyone, regardless of their background or race.

This cultural diversity is reflected in the country’s 12 official languages, including South African Sign Language (SASL), which was formally recognised in 2023. Each language carries its own history and identity. Although all official languages enjoy equal legal status, more needs to be done to promote SASL not only as a language for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons but as a language for all South Africans. It must be used widely enough, like any other spoken language in the country.

As citizens, we need to understand that sign language is central to the equality and dignity of Deaf and hard-of-hearing people. A simple greeting, a thank you, or a conversation in South African Sign Language (SASL) can demonstrate respect and help create more inclusive spaces.

Citizens can also take practical steps to learn the basics of SASL by making use of resources already available, including the Department of Basic Education’s SASL Learning Space on Thutong and the South African Sign Language Bilingual Dictionary, which is available as a mobile application. By making these resources part of our everyday lives, we can strengthen communication, break down barriers and contribute to a society in which Deaf and hard-of-hearing people can participate fully.

For many deaf South Africans, going to the hospital, a school meeting, looking for a job, reporting a crime or even ordering food can be a challenge, especially when people around them do not know sign language. It is hard to imagine living in a world where something as basic as communication is denied to you. This is the reality that confronts many Deaf and hard-of-hearing people.

We cannot claim to be a truly inclusive society while barriers remain to accessing services, education, employment, healthcare and information in languages that Deaf people understand and use, as provided for in the Constitution.

As we observe Deaf Awareness Month, government is encouraged by the progress we have made to improve the lives of Deaf people, even though more still needs to be done to ensure that they fully participate in our society.  The month provides us with an opportunity to highlight challenges faced by deaf people, while working together to address them.

Since the signing of South African Sign Language into law in 2023, government departments have sought to ensure greater inclusion through the use of sign language interpreters. Furthermore, the Pan South African Language Board regularly trains frontline workers in the three spheres of government on the basics of SASL so that they can interact with the Deaf community more effectively and make public services more inclusive and accessible.

Efforts at greater inclusion are further supported by the bilingual South African Sign Language (SASL) Dictionary, which provides standardised SASL lexical terminology and is available as a smartphone app. The bilingual SASL Dictionary was developed by the National Institute for the Deaf in 2022 and has over 3 000 signs and 2 500 English words.

All these initiatives are in line with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which serves as South Africa’s national policy framework for mainstreaming disability equity, protecting human rights and eliminating systemic exclusion.

The White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities provides a plan to promote equal participation of people with disabilities and advocates for them to have access to education, healthcare, employment and justice in appropriate languages and communication methods. This includes the teaching and learning of South African Sign Language and the training of teachers and other professionals in sign language.

Being a Rainbow Nation is more than about embracing diversity; it involves ensuring that no one is left behind.  We call on all South Africans to make an effort to learn sign language so that all citizens can feel truly at home and valued in our nation.

*Nene is Acting Deputy Director General at the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)

A Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation has uncovered a R58 million scheme entailing the fraudulent transfer of land belonging to the Ekurhuleni Municipality.

The scheme involved the illegal transfer of 208 stands at Villa Liza township into the hands of private individuals without council resolution and without the municipality receiving any benefits.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised this investigation in October 2024 under Proclamation No. 195 of 2024. The investigation examined serious maladministration in the transfer of 221 vacant stands in Villa Liza Township, near Boksburg.

“It assessed actions that violated applicable legislation, unlawful conduct by municipality employees or agents, and the potential losses suffered by the Municipality or the State arising from the land transfer,” SIU Head Leonard Lekgetho revealed in a media briefing on Wednesday.

The investigation uncovered:

• Fraudulent transfers of 208 of the 221 stands between 2018 and 2022. The transfers were carried out without council resolutions or lawful authority.
• One deceased person allegedly acted as the so-called estate agent. The SIU confirmed through the Department of Home Affairs that the agent passed away on 10 January 2022.
• A conveyancing firm not on the Municipality’s panel of approved attorneys lodged fraudulent documents at the Johannesburg Deeds Office. The firm, Moki Attorneys Incorporated, is owned by Kabelo Valentine Moki.
• The firm had certified that all the documents necessary for the transfer were true and correct upon submission to the Deeds Office.
• Forged rates clearance certificates and fabricated powers of attorney were used to deceive the system.
• The conveyancer and his spouse, Makhosazana Emelda Moki, personally benefited, acquiring 73 stands through Velamelda Trust and Mokolane Investments.
• Each stand was sold for R18 000 according to the Deeds Office. The municipal valuation ranged from R80 000 to R3.7 million. The stands were later resold at an average of R250 000 per stand.
• Some stands have been developed by the new owners, but the Municipality derives no revenue from those properties.

“The ‘agent’ would identify unallocated land owned by the municipality in Vila Liza Township. The ‘agent’ would then orchestrate a fraudulent sale and transfer of this municipal land to private hands.

“This scheme involved the ‘agent’ collaborating with the conveyancing firm, Moki Attorneys. Moki Attorneys, together with the agent, played a key role in falsifying documents for the Deeds Office’s registration and transfer of land to private hands,” Lekgetho explained.

He noted that the SIU has not found any evidence indicating the participation of Deeds Office officials in the scheme.

“Payments for the stands were made in cash, complicating the tracing of the financial transactions. There is no evidence indicating that municipal officials participated in the scheme.

“This matter has been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for further action or potential prosecution, which will initiate a criminal investigation to ensure that all parties involved are held criminally accountable,” he added.

Taking action

Lekgetho stated that the SIU has taken several actions based on the findings of the investigation.

These include obtaining an interim interdict preventing the occupants or registered owners of the 208 stands from selling, transferring, marketing, disposing of, leasing, donating, developing and dealing with the property.

This Friday, the unit will also approach the Special Tribunal to file an application to review and set aside the unlawful transfers and to recover losses incurred by the municipality.

“We have [also] submitted 208 referrals in respect of the fraud to the National Prosecuting Authority for possible prosecution.

“Regarding the professional consequences management of Moki Attorneys’ matter, the firm has been referred to the Legal Practice Council. Referrals have been made to the South African Revenue Service for investigation into undeclared income and tax irregularities.

“The SIU has also submitted 147 referrals to the Financial Intelligence Centre [FIC] due to the conveyancer’s non-compliance with FICA legislation whilst effecting the unlawful transfers.,” Lekgetho added.

Furthermore, recommendations have also been made to the municipality.

These include:

• Proper verification processes must be implemented by the Municipality before the registration of municipal services for all new properties.
• The Municipality maintains, updates, and verifies its asset register, ensuring that appropriate and effective control measures are in place to manage its immovable property.
• The Municipality conducts regular inspections of municipal-owned land to monitor these properties effectively and prevent future theft and loss.
• An annual municipal audit should be conducted for immovable municipal assets.
• The Municipality must consider establishing an MOU with the Deeds Registration Office to place safeguards on any transfers of municipal land.

“Fraudulent schemes of this nature not only erode public trust but also deprive communities of essential development opportunities, thereby undermining municipalities’ constitutional mandate to serve their constituents effectively.

“This investigation goes beyond mere investigation; it reveals a narrative of betrayal, misappropriation, and unlawful expropriation of public assets intended to benefit local communities.

“We remain committed to collaborating with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and other relevant entities to recover financial losses and restore these properties to the rightful owners, the people of Ekurhuleni,” Lekgetho concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the North West has noted a message circulating on social media alleging that a suspect described as the “Kempton Park Serial Killer” has relocated to Potchefstroom and that an extensive police operation has been launched in the city.

In a statement on Wednesday, the SAPS urged the public not to treat the circulating message as an official alert unless and until it is confirmed through SAPS communication channels.

“At this stage, the Potchefstroom police have not found an official report or complaint confirming the specific claims contained in the circulating message, including the alleged relocation of a suspect to Potchefstroom, the alleged incident near the Bult, the description of the suspect, or claims regarding a mobile command centre, drones and specialised units,” the police said.

The SAPS in the North West further added that it is aware of the serious investigations currently taking place in Gauteng’s Kempton Park area.

“This does not, on its own, establish that a suspect connected to those investigations has relocated to Potchefstroom.”

This comes as Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, has assured the nation that a high-level, multidisciplinary team has the required expertise to investigate a streak of murders of women in Ekurhuleni.

“The team is in place, and I can give you the assurance, based on past experience, that when it comes to such situations, the South African Police Service has the experience, the high-level expertise, to investigate cases of this kind,” he said at a media briefing on Tuesday night.

Over the weekend, police revealed the discovery of the bodies of four women in the same area over a period of approximately two months.

Two more bodies were subsequently discovered in different areas of Ekurhuleni in Gauteng on Monday (14 September 2026) and on Tuesday morning (15 September 2026), with the discovery of an eighth body announced on Tuesday evening.

North West Acting Provincial Commissioner, Major General Ryno Naidoo, has appealed to the community to remain calm, vigilant and responsible when sharing information.

He said police understand the concern that such a message can cause, particularly among residents and students.

“We appeal to the community not to spread unverified information or create unnecessary panic, because any genuine operational development or public safety warning will be communicated through official SAPS channels.

“Members of the public are nevertheless encouraged to observe sensible personal-safety precautions, particularly after dark. SAPS safety guidance includes avoiding walking alone where possible, using well-lit areas and remaining aware of one’s surroundings,” said Naidoo.

He further urged residents and businesses who may have information relating to a criminal incident to report it to the police rather than attempting to investigate or confront any person themselves.

In cases of emergency or reporting crime, contact 10111 or your local police station, while Crime Stop 08600 10111 can be used to provide information about criminal activity.

“The public is further reminded that false or misleading information circulated through social media can cause unnecessary fear and divert police resources. SAPS has previously warned communities about the consequences of circulating unverified police related information. Members of the public are encouraged to obtain police information directly from official SAPS communication platforms and to verify alarming messages before forwarding them,” said the police.

The official police channels are:
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAPoliceService
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sapoliceservice_za/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SAPoliceService
Website: www.saps.gov.za
–SAnews.gov.za

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has announced that it is placing operational units on heightened alert along regional borders to support ongoing investigations into the deaths of eight women in Ekurhuleni.

The JMPD expressed “deep sorrow, outrage, and heartfelt condolences” to the affected families and affected communities that the eight women hail from and for those grieving the discovery of the women’s bodies.

“While these crimes fall directly under the jurisdiction of the South African Police Service [SAPS] and our sister municipality in Ekurhuleni, gender-based violence and femicide [GBVF] is a national crisis that transcends municipal boundaries. The JMPD firmly asserts that no woman should ever live in fear, whether exercising, commuting, working, or going about her daily life anywhere in Gauteng.

“The JMPD stands in full solidarity with SAPS and the Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department [EMPD]. We have placed operational units within the City of Johannesburg, particularly along border areas, transit hubs, open fields, and isolated public spaces, on heightened alert to support broader regional intelligence and safety efforts,” the law enforcement department stated.

The JMPD noted its commitment through:

• Increased foot and mobile patrols in open spaces, recreational routes, parks, and high-risk pedestrian corridors across all seven regions of Johannesburg.
• Active collaboration with City of Johannesburg social development structures and community safety forums to ensure swift response times to incidents of violence or intimidation against women.
• Supporting SAPS and neighbouring municipal police services with data, camera surveillance monitoring, and joint law enforcement drives where required.

“The safety of women, children, and vulnerable groups in Johannesburg remains a core operational priority.

“The JMPD urges all residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity, unfamiliar vehicles loitering near open fields, or individuals targeting pedestrians immediately,” the department said.

Durin any emergency, contact the City of Johannesburg Emergency Call Centre on 011 375 5911, or the SAPS Crime Stop: 08600 10111 or GBV Command Centre: 0800 428 428. – SAnews.gov.za